Mayor Brandon Johnson released his proposed 2027 budget for the City of Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 21. As in previous years, BGA Policy will release a series of department-specific budget […]
Policy
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Chicago City Budget Analysis: Estimating Real Cost of Budgeted Positions from Publicly Available Data
BGA’s annual Budget Snapshots project seeks to supply policymakers and the public with analysis and historical context for Chicago’s municipal budgets.
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Analysis: 2025 City of Chicago Budget vs. Actual Spend
As Chicago’s government prepares for the 2027 municipal budgeting cycle, most of the city’s departments have continued to operate well within their budgets — with the same exceptions and outliers […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
BGA pushes Illinois judicial system to release SAFE-T Act-mandated data analyses in new lawsuit
Represented by the MacArthur Justice Center, BGA and DuPage County service provider Radical Hospitality Ministries, has filed suit against elements of the judicial branch to force compliance with transparency requirements […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Session Ends, but the Work Continues
This year’s schedule was unlike any in recent memory. While legislative sessions are always demanding, the greatest challenge was not the number of days lawmakers worked, but rather how those […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Years of Advocacy Lead to New Judicial Transparency Policy
For nearly five years, the Better Government Association, through its leadership of the Court Transparency Coalition, has worked alongside lawmakers, civic organizations, and advocates to push for greater transparency and […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
David Glockner Confirmed as Chicago’s Next Inspector General
The BGA Policy team applauds the Chicago City Council’s approval of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of David Glockner as the next Inspector General for the City of Chicago. The Office […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
City Council Approves Proactive Rental Inspection Working Group
Chicago’s city council today passed an ordinance establishing a working group to research, evaluate, and issue recommendations regarding health and safety inspections of rental units. The ordinance was produced and championed […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Small Steps for Independent Budgeting: City Council’s Plan, Passed Over Mayor’s Objections, Changes Revenues but Keeps Roughly the Same Spending Plan
Chicago’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year, enacted just before its Dec. 31st deadline, made history when it passed without the mayor’s support or approval. Mayor Brandon Johnson lacked the […]
Posted inPolicy
Speaker Welch; President Harmon commit to transparent online archives
Illinoisans should not need insider access or paid subscriptions to see their government at work. Across most of the country, residents can easily watch, search, and review legislative proceedings online […]