New Issue Ratings: See “Ratings” herein. Uninsured 5.70% Term Bonds due November 15,2023 and 5.79% Term Bonds due November 15,2029 S&P: AA; Moody’s: Aa2; Fitch: AA MBIA Insured 5.76%Term Bonds due November 15,2029 S&P: AAA,Moody’s: Aaa; Fitch: AAA $135,000,000 THE COUNTY OF COOK, ILLINOIS Taxable General Obligation Bonds, Series 2004C Dated Date of Issuance Due: See Inside Cover The Taxable General Obligation Bonds, Series 2004C (the “Taxable Series 2004C Bonds”) are direct and general obligations of The County of Cook, Illinois (the “County”). The full faith and credit of the County is pledged to the punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds. Direct annual taxes have been levied on all taxable real property in the County in amounts sufficient to pay principal of and interest on the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds as those amounts come due, except for certain interest that will be capitalized as described herein. These taxes are to be extended for collection without limitation as to rate or amount. Collections of such taxes are to be deposited directly by the County Collector with Amalgamated Bank of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), for the purpose of paying principal of and interest on the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds. The Taxable Series 2004C Bonds are being issued to provide funds to finance certain of the County’s self-insurance liabilities, to reimburse the County for a portion of the costs of certain capital equipment projects, to capitalize a portion of the interest to become due on the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds and to pay the costs of issuance of the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds, all as more particularly described herein. See “PLAN OF FINANCE.” The Taxable Series 2004C Bonds will be issuable in denominations that are multiples of $5,000 and will bear interest payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15,2004. The Taxable Series 2004C Bonds are being offered for sale in book-entry only form and will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”). DTC will act as securities depository for the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds and purchases will be made through DTC participants. The Taxable Series 2004C Bonds are subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption prior to maturity as described herein. The $31,000,000 Taxable Series 2004C Bonds maturing on November 15,2023, and bearing interest at the rate of 5.70%per annum and the $98,000,000 Taxable Series 2004C Bonds maturing on November 15,2029, and bearing interest at the rate of 5.79% per annum will not be insured. Payment of the principal of and interest on the $6,000,000 Taxable Series 2004C Bonds maturing on November 15,2029, and bearing interest at the rate of 5.76% per annum when due will be insured by a financial guaranty insurance policy to be issued simultaneously with the delivery of the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds by MBIA Insurance Corporation. Maturities, Principal Amounts, Interest Rates, Prices and CUSIP Numbers are set forth on the inside cover page. The Taxable Series 2004C Bonds are offered when, as and if issued and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to delivery of separate approving legal opinions by Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman, Chicago, Illinois, and William I! Tuggle, Esq., Chicago, Illinois, Co-Bond Counsel. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Schiff Hardin LLI: Chicago, Illinois, and Garland W Watt & Associates, LLC, Chicago, Illinois, Underwriters’ Co-Counsel. It is expected that the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds will be available for delivery through the facilities of DTC on or about August 12,2004. George K. Baum & Company Mesirow Financial, Inc. Blaylock & Partners, L.P. LaSalle Capital Markets A Division of ABN AMRO Financial Services, Inc. The Date of this Official Statement is August 2,2004. MATURITYSCHEDULE $135,000,000 THECOUNTY OF COOK,ILLINOIS TAXABLEGENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2004C $31,000,000 5.70%Term Bonds Due November 15,2023; Price 100%CUSIP 213183 6T8") $98,000,000 5.79%Term Bonds Due November 15,2029; Price 100%CUSIP 213183 5R3 (l) $6,000,000 5.76%Term Bonds Due November 15,2029; Price 100%CUSIP 213183 6U5 w2) Copyright 2004, American Bankers Association. CUSIP data herein is provided by Standard & Poor's, CUSIP Service Bureau, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Insured No dealer, broker, salesman or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Official Statement. Any such other information or representations must not be relied upon as statements of the County or the Underwriters. This Official Statement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Taxable Series 2004C Bonds by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer, solicitation or sale. The information set forth in this Official Statement is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. Unless otherwise indicated, the County is the source of the tables and statistical and financial information contained in this Official Statement, except information relating to governmental bodies other than the County, which has been obtained from those governmental bodies or from other sources. The information and opinions expressed in this Official Statement are subject to change without notice. Neither the delivery of this Official Statement nor any sale of Taxable Series 2004C Bonds made under it shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the financial condition or the operations of the County since the date ~ of this Official Statement. The County is not making any representations regarding its financial condition beyond the date of the auditor’s opinion nor, for interim financial information presented, beyond the date of this Official Statement. This Official Statement should be considered in its entirety and no one factor considered less important than any other by reason of its position in this Official Statement. Where statutes, resolutions, reports or other documents are referred to in this Official Statement, reference is made to those items for more complete information. THE TAXABLE SERIES 2004C BONDS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, NOR HAS THE BOND ORDINANCE BEEN QUALIFIED UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED, IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS CONTAINED IN SUCH ACTS. THE TAXABLE SERIES2004C BONDS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. FURTHERMORE, THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE ACCURACY OR DETERMINED THE ADEQUACY OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY MAY BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVERALLOT OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE TAXABLE SERIES 2004C BONDS AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS, IF BEGUN, MAY BE ENDED OR INTERRUPTED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OFFER AND SELL THE TAXABLE SERIES 2004C BONDS TO CERTAIN DEALERS AND DEALER BANKS AND BANKS ACTING AS AGENTS AT PRICES LOWER OR YIELDS HIGHER THAN THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICES OR YIELDS STATED ON THE INSIDE COVER PAGE HEREOF AND SAID PUBLIC OFFERING PRICES AND YIELDS MAY BE CHANGED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE UNDERWRITERS WITHOUT NOTICE. THE COUNTY OF COOK, ILLINOIS PRESIDENT Hon. John H. Stroger, Jr. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON FINANCE John P. Daley MEMBERSOF THE BOARDOF COMMISSIONERS Jerry Butler Forest Claypool Earlean Collins John P. Daley Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman Gregg Gosh Carl R. Hansen Roberto Maldonado Joseph Mario Moreno Joan P. Murphy Anthony J. Peraica Mike Quigley Peter N. Silvestri Deborah Sims Bobbie L. Steele John H. Stroger, Jr. Larry Suffredin COUNTYTREASURER EX-OFFICIOCOUNTY COLLECTOR Hon. Maria Pappas CHIEFFINANCIAL OFFICER Thomas J. Glaser COUNTYCOMPTROLLER Walter K. Knorr DIRECTOR,BUDGET AND MANAGEMENTSERVICES Donna L. Dunnings TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 Additional Information ...................................................................................................... 2 County Contacts ................................................................................................................. 2 PLAN OF FINANCE ..................................................................................................................... 2 SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS ............................................................................................. 4 THE TAXABLE SERIES 2004C BONDS .................................................................................... 4 General ............................................................................................................................... 4 Redemption ........................................................................................................................ 5 Book-Entry Only System ................................................................................................... 8 SECURITY FOR THE TAXABLE SERIES 2004C BONDS ...................................................... 8 BOND INSURANCE ...................................................................................................................