Chicago’s City Budget Up 11.6% since 2000

y Amanda Griffin-Johnson Since 2000, Chicago’s city budget has increased by 11.6%, when adjusted for inflation. So what are reasons for the budget growth? According to the most recent estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago’s population only increased by 1% between 2000 and 2008. Reasons for budget increases mentioned in the city press release for the 2010 budget...

y Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Since 2000, Chicago’s city budget has increased by 11.6%, when adjusted for inflation. So what are reasons for the budget growth? According to the most recent estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago’s population only increased by 1% between 2000 and 2008. Reasons for budget increases mentioned in the city press release for the 2010 budget included that “the costs of wages, pensions and health care – which accounts for 80% of City expenditures – continues to increase.” According to theChicago Sun-Times, in 2009 over 150 retired city workers received annual pensions greater than $100,000. Other cities, such as Los Angeles and New York City, have also experienced problems with growing payroll and pensions costs.

City of Chicago budgets from 1981 onward are available online at the City Clerk’s website.

Chicago’s City Budget Up 11.6% since 2000 – Illinois Policy