[remote or in person] Reconvened City Council Budget Vote

Chicago City Council

Politics

Monday, Dec. 16, 2024
1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago 60602 (Directions)

Chicago City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

Remote Event Link

This is an assignment to document the reconvened meeting of the City Council 2025 budget vote.

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

Meeting details: https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting?meetingId=5516C98E-72B9-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0
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 Citlali Perez

Johnson's budget passed. It includes a zero property tax increase, and various different fees and taxes on other services.

View notes

Live reporting by Sonal Soni

Johnson's budget passed 27 to 23. The budget includes a zero property tax increase, and various different fees and taxes on other services.

Sonal Soni (They/Them)

I’m covering today’s City Council meeting starting at 1 p.m. for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters Join the 5th annual #ChiBudgetBingo🤑@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves is calling bingo! Find this years prizes and download your board⬇️ tinyurl.com/2025ChiBudgetB… x.com/chidocumenters…

tinyurl.com/2025ChiBudgetB… x.com/chidocumenters…

01:02 PM Dec 16, 2024 CST

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 2/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Waiting for the meeting to begin. Access the livestream on the City Clerk site and agenda here: …storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

…storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 3/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting is starting momentarily. Read more about the budget vote and its postponement courtesy of Documenter and today’s bingo caller, Mo Dunne, below⬇️🤑 https://twitter.com/chidocumenters/status/1868730915415113971

https://twitter.com/chidocumenters/status/1868730915415113971

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 4/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Quorum is met and after a brief delay to resolve a tech issue, roll call follows. The public comment period begins. Speaker #1 is a city resident and adressess Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying they disagree with the city's response regarding migrants.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 5/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Another speaker talked about city taxes. "Chicago has a tax for everything... the only thing that you all don't have a tax for yet is oxygen," they said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 6/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves According to the next speaker, "Brandon Johnson is terrible with the budget," and asked "How is this $40 million credit line going to work exactly?" The public comment period comes to an end.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 7/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting continues and voting is open for the first agenda item listed under the Department of Housing (DOH). This substitute ordinance involves issuing funds for an affordable housing development project. chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matter…

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matter…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 8/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves City Council is currently standing in recess as the Sergeant of Arms restores order, Johnson said. Meeting attendees are now being instructed to exit.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 9/37

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting livestream currently:

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 10/37

You can also check in on the #ChiBudgetBingo at this blog post citybureau.org/notebook/2025-…

citybureau.org/notebook/2025-…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 11/37

The meeting is called back to order. Chair Dowell restates her motion from before and moves to pass the item. A vote is underway for SO2024-0013660. The motion will be reconsidered.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 12/37

The Comittee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development is next on the meeting agenda followed by The Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Several items under the Reports of Standing Committees portion of the meeting pass unanimously.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 13/37

Meeting attendees discuss the budget. According to Alder Beale, "I too rise to voice my opposition to this budget for numerous reasons." Beale said that residents want to see less spending, yet the budget has increased.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 14/37

Beale also opposed increasing property taxes. news.wttw.com/2024/12/15/may…

news.wttw.com/2024/12/15/may…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 15/37

Alder Lee echoes other comments opposing the propery tax increase. Alder Hadden follows, noting Johnson's original $300 million property tax hike pitch. It's now down to $68.5 million, which some alders say is too high. cbsnews.com/chicago/news/m…

cbsnews.com/chicago/news/m…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 16/37

Alder Lopez also talks about the property tax. "We could have had and still can, by the way, have an in depth, robust and to use the word collaborative discussion on this, because we are still 15 days away from the deadline," he said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 17/37

Alder Fuentes says that many constituents in the 26th ward have been priced out of their homes and mentions the significance of youth employment for those helping to support their families.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 18/37

Alder Reilly speaks next. "We can't pat ourselves back for this budget, and I've heard colleagues talk about the impact of property taxes [on] gentrification," Reilly said. "They're 100% correct."

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 19/37

"Withhold your vote," Reilly adds. "Force this budget team to do its work, go back and make further adjustments, real cuts, real efficiencies." According to Reilly, he plans on voting no.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 20/37

The budget deadline is Dec. 31, and things could shut down if it isn't met. audacy.com/wbbm780/news/l…

audacy.com/wbbm780/news/l…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 21/37

Alder Ramirez-Rosa says he will vote yes on the budget today. "What I do love is that this budget continues to make critical investments in things like addressing homelessness in our communities," Ramirez-Rosa said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 22/37

Alder Gardiner said he's against the budget. "I'm trying to work with you, but you don't want to work with me," Gardiner said to Johnson. "You don't want to work with my community."

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 23/37

Johnson says there are three final speakers starting with Alder Sposato. Sposato says he will vote yes on the budget and notes that he struggled for some time before making that decision. Alder Dowell speaks next and says the budget isn't perfect, but will also vote yes.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 24/37

The meeting stands in recess while individuals are being removed, according to Johnson.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 25/37

The meeting comes back to order, Johson said. The livestream resumes.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 26/37

There's a motion on the floor for a roll call vote on item two. Alder Lopez calls "for the reading of the original text along [with] the amended text." That request is in accordance with rule 30, Lopez said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 27/37

Johnson responed to Lopez's request saying, "there's a motion to... waive rule 30 of having to read 70 pages of items added or stricken." Discussion over rule 30 and its potential suspension continues. Voting is now open.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 28/37

The motion to suspend rule 30 passes. A roll call vote for item two is called. Voting is underway.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 29/37

Item number two is amendments to 2025 budget recommendations... the amendments that are proposed would reduce the mayor's office position by $1 million [and] reduce middle management positions by $2.8 million, according to Johnson.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 30/37

The motion passes. A motion to reconsider the vote fails. There's a motion on the floor for a roll call vote for item four. Voting is underway.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 31/37

Item four consists of the substitute management ordinance linked here: The item passes. …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

…icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 32/37

The following items include (O2024-0013677) over motor fuel tax funds: …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/… And (R2024-0013678) over a salary resolution: …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

…icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/… …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 33/37

Both items pass. "That concludes items of unfinished business related to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations," Johnson said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 34/37

Additional unfinished business also concludes. "I'm very proud that we came together as a body to pass this budget," Johnsaid said.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 35/37

"We have passed a budget that does not cut services, that does not cut jobs that does not raise property taxes and sustains key programs and investments in youth employment, community safety, mental health and affordable housing," Johnson added.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 36/37

The next regular meeting of the City Council will held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting adjourns at approximately 5:25 p.m.

Sonal Soni (They/Them) @sonal_soni_ 37/37

That concludes this thread over today's City Council meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters Respond with comments or questions. Find details about the 5th annual #ChiBudgetBingo from @CHIdocumenters @rolllingwaves 🤑🤑🤑 Thanks for following along!

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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.