The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) is responsible for the administration of the city’s budget. Because OBM oversees the preparation of each department’s budget, as well as the non-departmental […]
Policy
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Office of the Mayor – BGA Policy 2025 Budget Snapshot
The office of the mayor contains the mayor’s administrative staff and several small offices focused on specific policy areas, such as the Office of Equity and Racial Justice, Office of […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Finance General – BGA Policy 2025 Budget Snapshot
The finance general category is a budgetary catch-all for non-departmental spending. There is no dedicated budget hearing devoted specifically to finance general appropriations, although in recent years it has made […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
BGA Policy 2025 City of Chicago Budget Overview
Mayor Brandon Johnson released his proposed 2025 budget for the City of Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 30. As in previous years, BGA Policy will release a series of department-specific budget […]
Posted inPerspectives
Civic leaders: How do we resolve Illinois’ pension mess? These 10 principles are a start.
A new day in Illinois’ fiscal future may be on the horizon. Responsible stewardship of the state’s budget over the past few years and the elimination of the state’s unpaid […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Watchdog Groups Urge Responsible Stewardship from Temporary Board of Education Appointees
The abrupt resignation of the entire Chicago Board of Education a month before the body begins its transition to locally elected governance has given Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson an opportunity […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Potential Impacts of Proposed Public Funding Option on Chicago Ward Elections
Legislation introduced in June by City Council ethics chair Matt Martin (47th Ward) would add a public funding option for aldermanic candidates starting in the 2027 election cycle. To evaluate […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Small Steps on Ethics Reform from a Reluctant Mayor
Today’s City Council meeting saw the passage of two sets of ethics reforms: an ordinance giving the Board of Ethics enforcement authority for a longstanding executive order banning lobbyist contributions […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Light Burke Sentence Makes Clear the Need for Reform
Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke today was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million for his conviction on 13 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. The […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Proposed Public Funding for Chicago Elections Could Give $200,000 Boost to Small-Donor Campaigns
A proposal from City Council ethics chair Ald. Matt Martin (47th) would add a public funding option to Chicago’s campaign finance landscape, bringing the city more in line with its […]