Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, November 9, 2026

When: Mon, Nov 9, 2026, 9:00 AM (Chicago time)
Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
Status: Scheduled & Published
Committee: Committee on Budget and Government Operations
Video: https://vimeo.com/1244474142
Transcript: full text (85,887 words, automatic captions)

Video chapters

17:46 Office of the City Treasurer FY2027 proposed budget and Catalyst Fund
28:40 Anthony Beale: Pressed on when the Treasurer discovered unspent Catalyst Fund money and how much was spent…
31:07 Anthony Beale: Asked how much Catalyst Fund money is proposed to balance the FY2027 budget.
33:39 Pat Dowell: Asked whether the Catalyst Fund board voted on moving money and whether it is documented.
35:55 Anthony Beale: Argued the Catalyst Fund should keep helping small businesses rather than be a one-time…
38:21 Pat Dowell: Confirmed the board must vote before the council acts, and asked about outside board members.
40:28 Pat Dowell: Asked about investment vehicles and requested the full portfolio list through the chair.
43:49 Brendan Reilly: Noted the Catalyst board has not met since 2019 and asked about budget line 0140 across…
46:54 Brendan Reilly: Demanded to know which fund pays for the Treasurer's security detail.
47:45 Brendan Reilly: Argued basic personnel questions must be answered publicly given a 33% budget increase.
52:42 Matthew J. O'Shea: Traced the Catalyst Fund's origins to the Emanuel/Summers administration and its…
55:45 Matthew J. O'Shea: Argued that with a budget gap and no head tax support, the $58 million should help close…
59:29 Matthew J. O'Shea: Noted the board controlling $58 million has not met in seven years and urged an ordinance…
1:01:09 William Conway: Cited statute requiring quarterly and annual Catalyst Fund reports and asked if they are…
1:04:32 William Conway: Noted nearly the entire budget increase sits under vaguely titled line 0140 and asked what…
1:08:13 William Conway: Challenged the gap between reported earnings and market benchmark returns and asked what the…
1:14:53 Jason C. Ervin: Asked the Treasurer about 2027 financial-empowerment and homeownership programs.
1:18:21 Jason C. Ervin: Asked whether investment policy changes could give the Treasurer more flexibility to boost…
1:24:35 Jason C. Ervin: Asked about pension health and MBE broker participation.
1:28:17 Daniel La Spata: Pressed on what professional and technical services line 0140 actually pays for.
1:31:53 Daniel La Spata: Questioned where roughly $166 million of interest earnings beyond budgeted amounts is…
1:36:02 Daniel La Spata: Said he would reply to the staff email thread and copy the Treasurer to resolve the…
1:37:09 Scott Waguespack: Cited the Inspector General's report on missing Catalyst Fund reports and asked about fund…
1:39:06 Scott Waguespack: Asked whether FOIA and OMA apply to the Catalyst Fund and how the public can track spending.
1:40:44 Scott Waguespack: Urged an open, transparent process for remaining Catalyst Fund dollars and appointment of…
1:55:41 Walter R. Burnett: Asked what benchmark index the city uses to gauge investment performance.
1:59:28 Walter R. Burnett: Requested benchmark comparison data and confirmed the portfolio is all fixed income.
2:03:12 Gilbert Villegas: Asked to add how many of the 762 loan recipient businesses are still open.
2:03:48 Public comment
2:18:02 Board of Election Commissioners FY2027 proposed budget and review of the November 3, 2026 election
2:27:13 Michelle A. Harris: Demanded an org chart and criticized the breakdown of communication with alderpersons.
2:28:31 Michelle A. Harris: Called ballot shortages and long waits egregious and akin to voter suppression.
2:33:20 Michelle A. Harris: Pressed for the emergency plan for ballot shortages in future elections.
2:46:50 Monique L. Scott: Asked what happened to ward-assigned Board of Elections liaisons and how many polling…
3:40:02 Ronnie L. Mosley: Described being wrongly issued a provisional ballot due to a poll book glitch and praised…
3:42:19 Ronnie L. Mosley: Said residents experienced what felt like voter suppression and asked about electronic…
3:44:41 Ronnie L. Mosley: Raised a dispute between election workers where both were removed and one lost pay.
3:53:13 Nicole T. Lee: Reported that Democrat and Republican were not translated on traditional-Chinese ballots and…
3:55:04 Nicole T. Lee: Offered to partner on recruiting Chinese-speaking election judges and poll workers.
3:55:53 Nicole T. Lee: Asked about security protocols at polling places after incidents requiring police.
4:22:11 Monique L. Scott: Raised voters being told they had already voted and asked about provisional ballots.
4:24:49 Monique L. Scott: Questioned how the 800 number is managed after being redirected on election day.
4:28:02 Byron Sigcho-López: Reported ballot and resource failures in the 25th Ward, including voters leaving without…
4:30:10 Byron Sigcho-López: Formally requested the full investigator report on the affected precinct.
4:33:27 Byron Sigcho-López: Noted issues were reported at 10:30 a.m. and persisted past 7 p.m. despite assurances.
5:29:37 Jeanette B. Taylor: Asked the cost of expanding touchscreen electronic voting.
5:33:16 Jeanette B. Taylor: Requested a public dashboard from every department showing voting data and transparency.
5:36:22 Jeanette B. Taylor: Criticized the Board for not being at the table on the Jesse Jackson ordinance.
5:43:38 David H. Moore: Thanked Board of Elections staff for proactive help and praised specific liaisons.
5:47:16 David H. Moore: Relayed judges' requests for additional electronic voting pads at multiple precincts.
5:57:07 Stephanie D. Coleman: Complained she does not know the executive director and supported the org chart…
6:01:13 Stephanie D. Coleman: Described a failed standby-judge response in her home precinct with no working…
6:06:11 Stephanie D. Coleman: Recommended staffing early voting so surplus judges can be sworn in day-of for short…
6:16:43 Jessica L. Fuentes: Questioned investigator training after cones were placed far beyond the 100-foot…
6:21:22 Jessica L. Fuentes: Acknowledged helpful Board staff while stressing the difficulty of safeguarding elections.
6:21:58 Jessica L. Fuentes: Raised election judge payment delays and lack of direct deposit, noting judges quit over…
6:26:31 Jeylú B. Gutiérrez: Thanked election staff and praised turnout and first-time voters in the 14th Ward.
6:30:02 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Detailed a seven-hour wait for ballots at Goudy Elementary, precinct 21-48, with…
6:32:29 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked how early voting sites differ from precinct polling places in resourcing and…
6:34:02 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Reported 17 vacant election judge positions three weeks out and asked about…
6:40:24 Department of Human Resources FY2027 proposed budget
6:44:31 David H. Moore: Congratulated the new HR commissioner and asked about assessment and morale improvement plans.
6:57:01 Samantha Nugent: Questioned the hiring freeze and total hires including the mayor's office and IGA.
7:00:34 Samantha Nugent: Asked for takeaways from the first-day meeting with EY and current implementations.
7:02:53 Samantha Nugent: Frustrated that EY savings of $41-52 million remain unimplemented a year later.
7:05:55 Emma Mitts: Asked about confusing bid postings for city jobs and how often non-bidders are selected.
7:09:38 Emma Mitts: Asked about Employee Assistance Program usage and outcomes in 2026.
7:12:16 Emma Mitts: Requested retirement projections, ADA accommodations, and older-worker data through the chair.
7:33:49 Department of Administrative Hearings FY2027 proposed budget
8:11:00 Department of Procurement Services FY2027 proposed budget, gunshot detection pilot and RFP
9:16:12 Gilbert Villegas: Questioned why a pilot is needed when CPD tested RFP products, and raised a $17.8M no-bid…
9:21:17 Gilbert Villegas: Flagged zero MBE/WBE/VBE participation on the $17.8M reference contract.
9:40:23 Lamont J. Robinson: Thanked the CPO for accessibility and the 'how to do business with the city' event.
9:41:21 Lamont J. Robinson: Asked how procurement efficiency could help close the city's budget gap.
9:59:26 Jeylú B. Gutiérrez: Asked about Latino contractor participation, spend figures, and prime versus…
10:06:37 Jeylú B. Gutiérrez: Thanked the chair for helping pass the union workers ordinance with CFL.

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on Budget and Government Operations heard FY2027 budget presentations from the City Treasurer's Office, the Board of Elections, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Administrative Hearings, and the Department of Procurement Services. Alderpersons sharply questioned the Treasurer over the Catalyst Fund's board not having met since 2019 and a proposal to use roughly $30 million of the fund to help close the city's budget gap, and pressed the Board of Elections over a coding error that caused ballot shortages in 24 split precincts on election day. The Chief Procurement Officer faced sustained criticism over the two-year-old gunshot detection RFP, a no-cost pilot announced by letter instead of appearing at a committee hearing, and a $17.8 million reference contract with no stated MBE/WBE/VBE participation. Four members of the public commented, mostly urging restored funding for senior services. The committee recessed until 9 a.m. the next day; no budget votes were taken in this hearing.

Topics: FY2027 city budget, Catalyst Fund, city investments and pension contributions, election administration and ballot shortages, election judge recruitment and pay, gunshot detection technology procurement, hiring and human resources, administrative hearings and fines, MBE/WBE procurement participation, senior services

Agenda items discussed

17:46 Office of the City Treasurer FY2027 proposed budget and Catalyst Fund: discussed
2:03:48 Public comment: discussed
2:18:02 Board of Election Commissioners FY2027 proposed budget and review of the November 3, 2026 election: discussed
6:40:24 Department of Human Resources FY2027 proposed budget: discussed
7:33:49 Department of Administrative Hearings FY2027 proposed budget: discussed
8:11:00 Department of Procurement Services FY2027 proposed budget, gunshot detection pilot and RFP: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked the Treasurer about 2027 financial-empowerment and homeownership programs. (1:14:53); Asked whether investment policy changes could give the Treasurer more flexibility to boost returns and reduce taxpayer burden. (1:18:21); Asked about pension health and MBE broker participation. (1:24:35)
Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Reported that Democrat and Republican were not translated on traditional-Chinese ballots and urged complete translations. (3:53:13); Offered to partner on recruiting Chinese-speaking election judges and poll workers. (3:55:04); Asked about security protocols at polling places after incidents requiring police. (3:55:53)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Pressed on when the Treasurer discovered unspent Catalyst Fund money and how much was spent in three years. (28:40); Asked how much Catalyst Fund money is proposed to balance the FY2027 budget. (31:07); Argued the Catalyst Fund should keep helping small businesses rather than be a one-time budget fix. (35:55)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked whether the Catalyst Fund board voted on moving money and whether it is documented. (33:39); Confirmed the board must vote before the council acts, and asked about outside board members. (38:21); Asked about investment vehicles and requested the full portfolio list through the chair. (40:28)
Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Noted the Catalyst board has not met since 2019 and asked about budget line 0140 across enterprise funds. (43:49); Demanded to know which fund pays for the Treasurer's security detail. (46:54); Argued basic personnel questions must be answered publicly given a 33% budget increase. (47:45)
Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Traced the Catalyst Fund's origins to the Emanuel/Summers administration and its COVID-era use. (52:42); Argued that with a budget gap and no head tax support, the $58 million should help close the gap and protect taxpayers. (55:45); Noted the board controlling $58 million has not met in seven years and urged an ordinance to redirect the money. (59:29)
William Conway (alderperson): Cited statute requiring quarterly and annual Catalyst Fund reports and asked if they are being done. (1:01:09); Noted nearly the entire budget increase sits under vaguely titled line 0140 and asked what it funds. (1:04:32); Challenged the gap between reported earnings and market benchmark returns and asked what the council could change. (1:08:13)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Pressed on what professional and technical services line 0140 actually pays for. (1:28:17); Questioned where roughly $166 million of interest earnings beyond budgeted amounts is represented in the budget. (1:31:53); Said he would reply to the staff email thread and copy the Treasurer to resolve the interest earnings question. (1:36:02)
Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Reported ballot and resource failures in the 25th Ward, including voters leaving without casting ballots. (4:28:02); Formally requested the full investigator report on the affected precinct. (4:30:10); Noted issues were reported at 10:30 a.m. and persisted past 7 p.m. despite assurances. (4:33:27)
Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Asked what benchmark index the city uses to gauge investment performance. (1:55:41); Requested benchmark comparison data and confirmed the portfolio is all fixed income. (1:59:28)
Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Complained she does not know the executive director and supported the org chart request; criticized no direct contact number. (5:57:07); Described a failed standby-judge response in her home precinct with no working machines or supplies. (6:01:13); Recommended staffing early voting so surplus judges can be sworn in day-of for short precincts. (6:06:11)
Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Questioned investigator training after cones were placed far beyond the 100-foot electioneering limit. (6:16:43); Raised election judge payment delays and lack of direct deposit, noting judges quit over it. (6:21:58); Acknowledged helpful Board staff while stressing the difficulty of safeguarding elections. (6:21:22)
Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Thanked election staff and praised turnout and first-time voters in the 14th Ward. (6:26:31); Asked about Latino contractor participation, spend figures, and prime versus subcontractor opportunities. (9:59:26); Thanked the chair for helping pass the union workers ordinance with CFL. (10:06:37)
Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked the cost of expanding touchscreen electronic voting. (5:29:37); Requested a public dashboard from every department showing voting data and transparency. (5:33:16); Criticized the Board for not being at the table on the Jesse Jackson ordinance. (5:36:22)
David H. Moore (alderperson): Thanked Board of Elections staff for proactive help and praised specific liaisons. (5:43:38); Relayed judges' requests for additional electronic voting pads at multiple precincts. (5:47:16); Congratulated the new HR commissioner and asked about assessment and morale improvement plans. (6:44:31)
Monique L. Scott (alderperson): Asked what happened to ward-assigned Board of Elections liaisons and how many polling place staff exist. (2:46:50); Raised voters being told they had already voted and asked about provisional ballots. (4:22:11); Questioned how the 800 number is managed after being redirected on election day. (4:24:49)
Emma Mitts (alderperson): Asked about confusing bid postings for city jobs and how often non-bidders are selected. (7:05:55); Asked about Employee Assistance Program usage and outcomes in 2026. (7:09:38); Requested retirement projections, ADA accommodations, and older-worker data through the chair. (7:12:16)
Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Described being wrongly issued a provisional ballot due to a poll book glitch and praised staff response. (3:40:02); Said residents experienced what felt like voter suppression and asked about electronic ballot availability. (3:42:19); Raised a dispute between election workers where both were removed and one lost pay. (3:44:41)
Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Questioned the hiring freeze and total hires including the mayor's office and IGA. (6:57:01); Asked for takeaways from the first-day meeting with EY and current implementations. (7:00:34); Frustrated that EY savings of $41-52 million remain unimplemented a year later. (7:02:53)
Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Demanded an org chart and criticized the breakdown of communication with alderpersons. (2:27:13); Called ballot shortages and long waits egregious and akin to voter suppression. (2:28:31); Pressed for the emergency plan for ballot shortages in future elections. (2:33:20)
Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Thanked the CPO for accessibility and the 'how to do business with the city' event. (9:40:23); Asked how procurement efficiency could help close the city's budget gap. (9:41:21)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Detailed a seven-hour wait for ballots at Goudy Elementary, precinct 21-48, with ballots running out twice. (6:30:02); Asked how early voting sites differ from precinct polling places in resourcing and judge recruitment. (6:32:29); Reported 17 vacant election judge positions three weeks out and asked about retention strategies. (6:34:02)
Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Cited the Inspector General's report on missing Catalyst Fund reports and asked about fund operations. (1:37:09); Asked whether FOIA and OMA apply to the Catalyst Fund and how the public can track spending. (1:39:06); Urged an open, transparent process for remaining Catalyst Fund dollars and appointment of the three aldermanic advisory board members. (1:40:44)
Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked to add how many of the 762 loan recipient businesses are still open. (2:03:12); Questioned why a pilot is needed when CPD tested RFP products, and raised a $17.8M no-bid software contract. (9:16:12); Flagged zero MBE/WBE/VBE participation on the $17.8M reference contract. (9:21:17)

Exchanges between members

8:39:42 Alderperson Reilly asked the chair to amend a question to determine when the pilot starts and how long it lasts; the chair rephrased it accordingly.
3:08:11 Alderperson Waguespack suggested to Chair Harris that Postal Service ballot issues be raised with the Cook County Democratic Party executive committee.
10:29:06 After Alderwoman Mitts criticized the CPO for missing hearings and warned of future oversight, Chair Ervin responded directly that next year's hearing would be harder.

Documents

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