Budget hearings end today with the Law Department and the Inspector General. Here's what comes next, and when

After nine days of department hearings, the Council still has an $882 million gap, a new $75 million hole and wide opposition to the head tax. The public hearing is Dec. 8; the deadline is Dec. 31.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 10, 2026

The City Council's budget committee holds its last scheduled department hearing today, starting at 9 a.m. in the Council chamber (meeting page). Up today, per the committee's amended schedule: the License Appeal Commission, the Police Board, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, the Board of Ethics, the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Law.

Why it matters: the department hearings are where alderpersons ask questions on the record. After today, the work moves into private talks over what to cut, tax or borrow, and then to the Council floor.

What to watch today

The Law Department. It defends the City in police misconduct suits. The Mayor's plan borrows $480 million for settlements and judgments, as we reported, and the City approved about $260 million in wrongful-conviction settlements tied to one former detective's cases (our story).
The Inspector General. Its 2027 plan includes studying 911 calls that wait for an officer, as we reported. On Monday, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) cited an Inspector General report on missing Catalyst Fund reports at the Treasurer's hearing (watch).
Police oversight. The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability runs the February police district council elections, which share the ballot with the mayor's race.

What the hearings turned up

In nine department hearing days since Oct. 26, members repeatedly asked about money already in the City's hands:

The Treasurer's Catalyst Fund holds about $58 million, controlled by a board that hasn't met in years (our story).
Four TIF districts hold millions with no surplus planned (our story).
Ernst & Young savings the City was told about last year still aren't in place; the new Human Resources commissioner said Monday she couldn't find evidence any HR-related recommendations had been carried out (our story).

Where the gap stands

The Mayor's $17.6 billion plan closes an $882 million gap with, among other things, a head tax on large employers, expected to raise about $101 million, CBS Chicago reported. On Nov. 2, the Council voted 44 to 6 to send a $75 million parking meter payment the plan counted on to the pension funds instead, opening a new hole (our story). The Sun-Times reported the gap could reach $176 million if the Council also rejects the head tax.

A year ago, the Council passed its own 2026 revenue plan without a head tax, 29 to 19:

How each ward voted

29 yea, 19 nay, 2 not voting · Dec 19, 2025 · Passed

Yea Nay Not voting

SO2025-0021719: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

The calendar

Nov. 12: the Police and Fire Committee hears testimony on funding for domestic violence survivors' emergency housing and legal aid (our story).
Nov. 16: the Finance Committee meets at 10 a.m. Its agenda isn't posted yet (meeting page).
Nov. 17: the Zoning and Housing committees meet.
Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m.: the Council's formal public hearing on the budget (R2026-0029546), with Council meetings on the calendar for Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.
Dec. 31: the legal deadline for a balanced budget. Twenty-six votes pass it when all 50 members vote.

Every hearing's notes, with links to each member's questions in the video, are on the budget committee's page.

Sources: Budget Committee: FY2027 hearing schedule, third amended (PDF); WTTW: Council votes 44-6 on parking meter money, Nov. 2, 2026; SO2025-0021719: 2026 revenue ordinance alternative.