# Committee on Budget and Government Operations meeting, April 14, 2025

- When: Mon, Apr 14, 2025, 1:00 PM (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](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/budget-and-government-operations)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1075397593
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1075397593.txt) (2,855 words, official captions)

## 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 approved its March 2025 Rule 45 report and recommended passage of a substitute amendment to the 2025 annual appropriation ordinance for Fund 925, totaling about $8.09 million in grant funds for the Department of Public Health, the Department of Family and Support Services, and the Department of Transportation. Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez asked about the state shelter renovation grant and whether railroad cost-share funding could also be used for retaining walls. Item 2 was held at the grantee's request. The committee also recommended passage of transfer-of-funds ordinances for the 1st and 23rd Wards, after a discussion of how a $10,800 ward encumbrance can be applied. Two public commenters criticized city spending and the budget shortfall.

Topics: Grant appropriations, Fund 925, Ward budget transfers, Rule 45 report, Budget shortfall

### Agenda items discussed

- [2:15:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8132) March 2025 Rule 45 report: passed
- [2:15:50](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8150) Substitute amendment to the 2025 annual appropriation ordinance for Fund 925 grants (CDPH, DFSS, CDOT): passed
- [2:21:49](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8509) Agenda item 2: held
- [2:22:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8538) Transfer of funds within the 1st Ward and 23rd Ward wage allowance and expense accounts for 2025: passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Jason C. Ervin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/28) (chair): Explained that each ward's $10,800 encumbrance sits in the expense account by default and members may shift it between salary and expense lines, and that the amount could change depending on revenues at midyear. ([2:23:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8596))
- [Raymond A. Lopez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/15) (alderperson): Asked what the state's tax write-off program for shelter renovations is and requested details through the chair to see if the city could make more use of it. ([2:18:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8311)); Asked whether the $3.8 million railroad funding for the CREATE project was federal or state money and whether railroads provide funding for issues such as retaining walls. ([2:19:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8388)); Asked whether the City Council's budgeted turnover savings are considered in ward fund transfers and whether members are encouraged to leave positions unfilled. ([2:22:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8556))

### Exchanges between members

- [2:22:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8556) Lopez asked the chair whether City Council turnover savings are considered in ward fund transfers.
- [2:23:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230?t=8596) The chair answered Lopez that members decide how to apply the ward encumbrance between salary and expense lines.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/bc3584a9-9bab-4bf9-a66c-7079acb120e0.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/e29258ad-82b8-4d98-9472-2003c481e366.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1d9daedc-0fe9-44de-b2bf-67a68220f637.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/57352F2D-8C10-F011-BAE2-001DD80DF230 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt