# Streets and Sanitation has a 4,000-stump backlog after last year's cut, and other takeaways from its budget hearing *The $1.7 million for stump removal is back in the 2027 budget. Members also asked about rat birth control, winter salt and the cost of cleaning up homeless encampments.* By Chicago Politics · Updated Oct 30, 2026 The Department of Streets and Sanitation has about 4,000 tree stumps waiting to be removed, Commissioner Cole Stallard told the City Council's budget committee Thursday, after stump removal was cut from this year's budget to save money. The 2027 proposal puts $1.7 million back. Why it matters: Streets and Sanitation picks up your garbage, trims and removes parkway trees, baits for rats, sweeps streets and plows snow. It's the department members hear about most from residents, and this hearing was largely friendly. ## The takeaways **Stumps.** Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) asked where stump removal stood ([watch at 41:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=2464)). The department said it had worked with the budget office and the Mayor's Office to restore $1.7 million starting next year. Officials confirmed the money had been taken out of the 2026 budget as a cost savings and put the backlog at about 4,000 stumps ([watch at 41:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=2474)). **Rat birth control.** Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) asked about a pilot that uses contraceptives to control rats. The department said full results are expected in spring 2027 and that all indications are it is working ([watch at 1:22:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=4922)). Villegas suggested seeking state or federal help to pay for it, which he put at about $5,000 a block ([watch at 1:25:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=5124)). Stallard said the department had asked for more rat-baiting crews to reach the 25 to 28 crews he had promised the Council. In his opening statement, he said the department will also pilot carbon dioxide technology for rodent control in green spaces in 2027. **Encampment cleanups.** Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th) said the department had come to her ward about 20 times last year to clean encampments, and asked what each cleanup costs ([watch at 2:48:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=10132)). Stallard said crews had done 495 cleanups this year, usually with a supervisor and several laborers, and promised a cost breakdown in writing. Nugent said the money would be better spent on housing and on closing encampments than on repeat cleanups. **Winter.** Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) reviewed winter readiness with the department ([watch at 2:55:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=10533)). Stallard's statement said more than 400,000 tons of salt are already stored around the city. **Street sweeping and leaves.** Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) and Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said leaves are falling later because of warmer weather. They asked whether the sweeping season and sweeper fleet are keeping up. Hadden also asked about filling the senior city forester job left open by a retirement ([watch at 1:45:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=6344)). **Weeds.** Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) proposed native-plant parkways to cut what he said was a $3.8 million weed-cutting budget ([watch at 2:27:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=8843)). ## What our records add **The money.** The department's proposed 2027 budget is $381.9 million, up $32 million or 9.15% from its revised 2026 budget. That's according to the Council Office of Financial Analysis presentation that opened the hearing ([watch at 26:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=1592)). **Last year's cut.** The stump money was removed from the 2026 budget as a cost savings, the department said. The Council doesn't vote on department budgets one at a time: the $1.7 million stays in only if it's still there when members vote on the whole 2027 budget, which must pass by Dec. 31. **Every member's questions.** Our [meeting page](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/31EFF839-92C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5) lists everyone who spoke, with links to each moment in the video. The same session covered CDOT, the Department of Technology and Innovation and Water Management. ## What's next - **Spring 2027:** results of the rat contraceptive pilot, according to the department. - **Nov. 4 to 10:** budget hearings resume. - **By Dec. 31:** the Council must pass the 2027 budget. To request a tree trim, stump removal or rat baiting, call 311 or use the City's 311 app. *Sources: [Chicago Politics: Oct. 29 budget hearing transcript (automatic captions)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1240513369.txt); [Chicago Politics: Committee on Budget and Government Operations](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/budget-and-government-operations); [City of Chicago: CHI311](https://311.chicago.gov/).* ## Sources 1. 311.chicago.gov: [City of Chicago: CHI311](https://311.chicago.gov/) On the map: [9th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/9), [36th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36), [39th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/39), [13th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/13), [49th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49), [40th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/chicago-streets-sanitation-budget-hearing-4000-stump-backlog-rodents-encampments · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt