by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Earlier this week, Chicago’s Inspector General (IGO) released the second annual “Budget Options” report featuring 63 options for the city to cut costs or raise revenues. While the ideas range from low-hanging fruit to political non-starters, the report highlights the severity of the fiscal difficulties the city is facing with personnel costs and...

by Wesley Fox In the last few years, the federal government and many state governments have used a similar approach to dealing with the economic downturn: higher taxes and more government spending.  Governor Quinn’s proposed tax hikes and his $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now capital spending program are a perfect example. Meanwhile, Chicago Park District...

by Ashley Muchow One week of cost cutting suggestions down, another to go.  Daley has provided further information on how, and what, he plans to do to narrow the city’s $655 million budget deficit.  Daley proposed today the city of Chicago cut costs by consolidating a handful of city departments. The Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Office...