Calling it as we see it!
Follow along with us on Twitter/X and Instagram as we live-tweet the city budget vote. This webpage will also be updated as bingo squares are called. Sonal Soni is providing our regular Chicago Documenters coverage of the meeting’s proceedings here.
To read more about this year’s game of #ChiBudgetBingo and the rollercoaster of a budget season, check out our blog at https://tinyurl.com/2025ChiBudgetBingo.
BINGO SQUARES
Camera lingers on city seal
Quorum is met with 44 members present
Public commenter directly calls out the mayor
George Blakemore is in the house
Sergeant-at-arms called upon to restore order or remove someone
“Pensions, pensions, pensions” (Ald. Marty Quinn)
Alder calls for no property tax increase (As of Sunday, Dec. 15, the budget proposal currently under consideration does not include a property tax increase. We are counting Ald. Anthony Beale’s comment in support of alders who stood up against the “trainwreck” of the property tax hike)
Parking meter deal bemoaned . . . again (Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez)
Call for continued investment in CDPH mental health response program (Ald. Maria Hadden)
“Fiscally responsible” (Ald. Brendan Reilly said “fiscally responsible,” “fiscal responsibility," “fiscally irresponsible,” etc.)
“Lack of affordable housing” (Ald. Jason Ervin mentioned “less affordable housing”)
At least one alder votes “no”
Meeting surpasses 4 hours
Chicago Police Department budget increases from FY2024
Budget is approved