Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says there will be layoffs this year as her team works to close a budget gap rumored to be between $250 million and $300 million.

“As there were layoffs last year, I expect that … it will be inevitable there will be layoffs this year,” Preckwinkle said after a county board meeting yesterday.

Last year, more than 500 people were laid off due to then-$487 million budget gap and the staff that stayed on had to take furlough days. Preckwinkle, who will meet with union leaders to discuss the layoffs, recently said the 10 furlough days are being considered for the coming year as well as in the "foreseeable future."