Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle made the announcement Monday. They were joined by members of a city-county committee on collaboration that they set up March 29.
Emanuel noted the two governments share the City Hall-County Building but haven't always worked together to share and cut expenses.
"We have not done the best job. These hallways have been miles apart, rather than just a few feet apart," said Mayor Emanuel.
"Examples of cost saving measures include consolidating maintenance crews within the city/county building, pursuing a shared approach to how we purchase electricity and natural gas, as well as joint purchasing of such items as salt in the winter," Preckwinkle said.
Preckwinkle and Emanuel say the committee will keep working on other possible savings, such as coordinating medical clinics and combining election services.
