# Budget hearings resume Wednesday: 911, libraries, housing and police oversight are up next. What members asked last year *Five more days of department hearings run Nov. 4 to 10, now with a $75 million hole to fill. Our notes from the 2026 budget hearings show the questions likely to come back, from unanswered 911 calls to business license fees.* By Chicago Politics · Updated Nov 3, 2026 After a pause for Election Day, the City Council's budget hearings resume Wednesday with five more days of City departments defending their shares of Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed $17.6 billion 2027 budget. The Committee on Budget and Government Operations meets at 9:30 a.m. each day in the Council Chamber, according to its [amended schedule](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/077463a6-1b09-4ba7-9ab7-3dfd2f0c7cef.pdf). Why it matters: this second half covers the departments residents deal with most directly after police and streets: 911, fire and ambulances, libraries, homeless services, housing, business licenses and the agencies that oversee police. The Council has until Dec. 31 to pass a budget, and the head tax and other revenue pieces are [still in dispute](/on-my-block/pritzker-head-tax-johnson-fair-share-town-hall-council-votes-2027-budget). Members now also face a new $75 million gap: on Monday the Council voted 44 to 6 to send the parking meter payment the Mayor's plan counted on to pensions this year instead ([our story](/on-my-block/council-44-6-parking-meter-75-million-pensions-budget-gap-what-next)). The hearings so far covered the budget office, police, public health, transportation, streets and sanitation and others. Our coverage includes [police overspending](/on-my-block/chicago-police-budget-hearing-overspending-520-million-overtime-2027), [borrowing for police settlements](/on-my-block/chicago-budget-hearing-settlement-bonds-190-million-interest-cfo) and [ward "menu" money](/on-my-block/chicago-aldermanic-menu-money-street-costs-cdot-budget-hearing-2027). ## The schedule, and what members asked last year The same committee questioned the same departments on the 2026 budget a year ago. Our meeting notes show the issues that may come back. **[Wed., Nov. 4](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8A97D1CA-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5): Planning and Development, Housing, Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.** Last year, Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) asked why some business license fees would double or quadruple, citing small businesses and empty storefronts ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CECBBABC-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=11501)). Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) said affordable housing rehab costs were approaching $1 million a unit and asked how the Department of Housing keeps costs down ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CECBBABC-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=31918)). Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) asked why businesses that are repeatedly closed for problems keep their licenses ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CECBBABC-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=16800)). This year, festival food safety is likely to come up after a [WBEZ and Sun-Times investigation of the Taste of Chicago](/on-my-block/taste-of-chicago-food-violations-festival-inspections-dcase-bacp-budget-hearing). **[Thu., Nov. 5](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/93474B73-93C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5): Fire, Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), Animal Care and Control, Office of Public Safety Administration, Civilian Office of Police Accountability.** Last year, Lee raised reports of residents calling 911 and getting no answer, and asked what data exists on unanswered calls ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/27FEFA88-C89F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=15094)). Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) asked what accountability the City had applied to the vendor of the delayed 911 dispatch system ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/27FEFA88-C89F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=5737)). Ald. Bill Conway (34th) asked why the timeline for restoring gunshot detection had changed ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/27FEFA88-C89F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=4702)). This year the City has started its own [gunshot detection pilot](/on-my-block/chicago-gunshot-detection-pilot-six-districts-shotspotter-replacement), and voters see an advisory question on it today. **[Fri., Nov. 6](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/62AEBFEC-93C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5): City Clerk, People with Disabilities, Family and Support Services, Human Relations, Public Library.** Last year, Lee asked about a roughly 43% cut in gender-based violence funding and whether there was a backup plan ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/5D875568-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=18159)). Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said homeless services need dedicated funding ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/5D875568-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=13088)). Conway asked what was cut when the disability office's budget fell by about a third ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/5D875568-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=4747)). On the library, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) asked why its budget fell only $2 million while 69 positions were eliminated ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/CECBBABC-C79F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=33857)). **[Mon., Nov. 9](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5): Treasurer, Human Resources, Administrative Hearings, Procurement Services, Board of Elections.** Last year, Lee asked how Smart Streets camera tickets are judged and what defenses are accepted ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/41B45E25-C99F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=4589)), a question that matters more now that the camera program [is expanding](/on-my-block/smart-streets-camera-rollout-foster-california-pershing-2027-ordinance). Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) asked why election judges wait four to six weeks to be paid ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/41B45E25-C99F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=9697)). **[Tue., Nov. 10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D7BBF3E9-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5): Liquor Control, Police Board, Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, Board of Ethics, Inspector General, Law.** Last year, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) asked what recourse exists when a mayor declines the Inspector General's recommendation to discipline someone ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/8EAB03F6-C69F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=4491)). Lopez said the Council hadn't acted on the Board of Ethics' recommended reforms ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/87415BD7-C89F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=9025)). Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) asked about the long-term cost of borrowing to pay lawsuit settlements ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/41B45E25-C99F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF?t=27501)). ## How to follow Public comment opens each hearing. Each meeting page above will carry video, a searchable transcript and our notes after the hearing. ## What's next - **Nov. 4 to 10:** the remaining department hearings. - **Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m.:** the Council's formal public hearing on the budget, set by [R2026-0029546](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029546-time-fixed-public-hearing-2027-executive). - **By Dec. 31:** the Council must pass a 2027 budget. *Sources: [Chicago Politics: O2026-0029681, parking meter payments to pension funds](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029681-adding-regarding-ongoing-metered-parking-concession).* --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/chicago-budget-hearings-resume-wednesday-week-two-what-members-asked-last-year · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt