[remote or in person, 12-3:30pm] 2025 Chicago Budget Hearing: financial overview

Chicago City Council

Finance

Politics

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024
12:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

This is an assignment to document a portion of Chicago City Council’s 2025 budget process.

Roles & Scheduling New this year, we are capping departmental budget hearing assignments at 3.5 hours (plus 2 hours outside work). Please take note of the time slot indicated in the assignment title. You will be paid for the full 3.5 hours regardless of whether the meeting starts late or a break occurs, but you should conclude your coverage when the end of your shift arrives.

Weekdays

Morning shift: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Live reporting (Twitter)
Notes

Afternoon shift: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Live reporting (Twitter)
Notes
Special assignment*

Saturday, Nov. 9 & 19

Morning shift: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Live reporting (Twitter)
Notes

Afternoon shift: 12:30 p.m. to 4 pm

Live reporting (Twitter)
Notes
Special assignment*

*In the event that a hearing extends past the end of the afternoon shift, on the subsequent weekday morning we will assign someone to take notes on the remaining portion of the meeting using the video recording. This assignment will be due by noon the next day and paid according to the regular formula (meeting duration + 2 hours). To indicate your interest, apply to the “special assignment” role.

For example, if a Monday meeting adjourns at 6:42 p.m., on Tuesday morning we will assign someone who has applied to the “special assignment” role to take notes on the portion that took place after 5 p.m., or the last hour and 42 minutes. The assignment will be due by noon on Wednesday.

Applicants who completed 2025 budget season training on Oct. 21 or 22 will receive an extra hour of pay on each assignment they submit.

Assignment instructions This is an assignment to document a 3.5-hour portion of Chicago City Council’s 2025 budget process.

You have the option of documenting this meeting in person or remotely.

If you choose to attend in person, an additional hour will be added to your total assignment hours. Please note that there may be increased security and restrictions; use a clear bag if possible and leave large water bottles, thermoses and pepper spray at home. If you choose to document remotely, the meeting will be live-streamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Other notes and pre-research resources

For more info and resources, see our Chicago Documenters Guide to the City’s 2025 Budget Process (in 2024).
Chicago Councilmatic: This civic data org’s website has a lot of the information that can be found on the city’s database in a more user-friendly format, as well as context on City Council and alders.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Adlyn Morrison

Various alders suggested reducing the amount of managerial positions in several departments to address the budget deficit as opposed to the property tax hike.

View notes

Live reporting by Parker Garlough

Various alders suggested reducing the amount of managerial positions in several departments to address the budget deficit as opposed to the property tax hike.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough

Hi, I’ll be live-tweeting the first portion of today's Chicago budget hearing: financial overview for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters

11:55 AM Nov 6, 2024 CST

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 2/21

Public comment has begun.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 3/21

Pat Doerr, managing director of the Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, spoke against a tax increase on alcohol. He said it would penalize union workers in that industry.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 4/21

Gabby Green, member of the Water For All coalition: Chicago water bills are disproportionately high, and have been increased greatly in recent years. She proposed a progressive water bill program, which she said would not negative impact Chicago's revenue.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 5/21

A member of Legal Action Chicago said that water bills are unmanageable for many, and they are often denied debt relief when they go to the City for help.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 6/21

Oliver Cicora, environmental justice coordinator for SOUL (Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation): "We cannot wait any longer to ensure all Chicagoans have access to safe and affordable water."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 7/21

soulinchicago.org

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 8/21

Tiwon Sims: "I think America can breathe a little easier this morning," referring to the election result. "There are 47,200 illegals in the city... Sigcho-Lopez has made sure they'll be housed. They're housing illegals over Americans."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 9/21

Jessica Jackson: "I'm sure everybody's feeling good this morning. I know I am. Trump 2024... We're gonna let you all talk about this budget and let you do some silly things like vote to increase property taxes some more."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 10/21

Jackson urged meeting attendees to become Republicans, and repeated a refrain of "Trump 2024."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 11/21

Kimberly Sombers: "I've been a Republican since before Trump ran... Last time I was here, I was asking you what's going on with Englewood because it looks like the projects. The aldermen have been misappropriating funds."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 12/21

Sombers discussed the need for increased awareness of the Troubled Buildings Initiative. chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 13/21

A person whose name I missed said that because Trump has promised mass deportations, all budget items related to migrants should be removed. "They're about to go home. We don't have to dedicate any more conversation to them, any more time, any more energy, any more money."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 14/21

She also asked that the Sanctuary City Ordinance be suspended and CPD cooperate with federal immigration officers to conduct deportations.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 15/21

George Blakemore: "All these Black faces in high places are selling Black people out. You're not going to get on the Mexican side. You're not going to get on the Chinese side. You're going to get on the Black side." This is a common refrain in his speeches.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 16/21

Justin Russell, organizer with SOUL, spoke in favor of the Water For All ordinance. "It allows people to live without worrying about how they will pay for a life-sustaining ordinance."

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 17/21

Public comment has concluded.

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 18/21

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 19/21

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 20/21

Appropriation for the mayor's office has decreased by 30%, primarily due to contractual services, travel services, and 909A accounts, said a representative of @ChicagoCOFA

Parker Garlough @parker_garlough 21/21

Annette Guzman, OBM director, emphasized that the decision to raise property taxes was not taken lightly, and that not doing so would have necessitated reducing staffing or cutting spending on public safety infrastructure.

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.