Acting OPSA Executive Director Era Patterson, left, addresses the Committee on Police and Fire on Sept. 5, 2025. [Livestream]

On the second day of mid-year budget hearings at City Hall, alderpeople heard from several of the city’s public safety agencies. The Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA) was among those that presented, and alderpeople got an update about an audit into the office’s medical leave division.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) is pictured at a City Council meeting in December 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Downtown Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) is running to unseat longtime Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in next year’s Democratic Party primary, he announced Wednesday. 

Ald. Jason Ervin (28), the budget committee chair, is pictured at a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

As the city stares down a projected $1.1 billion budget gap in 2026 and a projected end-of-year deficit, the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday kicked off a two-week period of mid-year budget hearings, during which alderpeople will get the chance to ask the city’s finance leaders and department heads about how the city’s actual spending and revenue compares to what was projected at the outset of the year.

County Assessor Fritz Kaegi speaks at a press conference on Jan. 29, 2025. [Livestream]

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s Office on Monday highlighted the release of an independent study showing an estimated $1.9 billion in savings to homeowners during the assessor’s tenure compared to his predecessor.

The seal of the Cook County Forest Preserve District is pictured. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will consider an appointment to the council that advises the district on conservation policy, a new contract for energy delivery consultation and the purchase of new equipment for the district’s police.

The board is set to meet no earlier than 10 a.m. at the Brookfield Zoo, and the board meeting will commence after the preceding Forest Preserves’ committee meetings.

Acting OPSA Executive Director Era Patterson, left, addresses the Committee on Police and Fire on Sept. 5, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday approved the mayor’s appointment to head the Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA), sending the final confirmation to the full council later this month.

Cat Sharp is running for Cook County Board in District 12. [Provided by Cat Sharp's campaign]

Cat Sharp, who currently serves as Ald. Andre Vasquez’s (40) chief of staff, is seeking the Democratic nomination to vie for the open District 12 seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners next fall.

Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman is pictured during a press conference on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

As the city forecasts a $146 million end-of-year corporate fund deficit and a $1.15 billion budget gap heading into the next fiscal year, the City Council next week will hear from numerous city departments about current spending and revenue levels through the middle of 2025.  

The mid-year budget hearings, mandated through a budget process reform ordinance that was passed during last year’s budget season, will begin Tuesday and take place over the subsequent ten days.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pictured during a press conference on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Following his recent executive order, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office and the city’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights on Thursday announced the expansion of a city educational campaign that informs immigrant communities about their rights when it comes to dealing with immigration authorities and a new initiative aimed at preparing immigrant or mixed-immigration status families for anticipated federal raids.

Front row, from left, 19th Police District Councilors Jenny Schaffer and Maurilio Garcia speak to Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48) during a hearing on alternative parking violation enforcement at the public safety committee on Sept. 3, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Wednesday approved the allocation of funds for public safety infrastructure funded through the Bally’s downtown casino project. The committee also held a hearing on giving the responsibilities of parking enforcement and other non-urgent matters to civilian personnel rather than police.

Police and Fire Committee Chair Chris Taliaferro (29) is pictured at a City Council meeting on Oct. 4, 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday will consider the mayor’s appointment to head the Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA) and hear a presentation from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) about its activities from the second quarter of this year.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pictured during a City Council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Chicago is forecasting at least a $1.15 billion budget gap heading into the next fiscal year, the mayor and finance officials told reporters Friday.  

At the same time, the lack of certainty surrounding a pension payment reimbursement from Chicago Public Schools is a driving factor in the city anticipating to end 2025 with a $146 million deficit in its corporate fund. 

Public Safety Committee Chair Brian Hopkins (2) is pictured during a City Council meeting on April 17, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Wednesday will consider measures allocating funds for public safety infrastructure around the Bally’s Chicago casino project and raising fines for trespassers that use fake identities. The committee will also hold a hearing on giving the responsibilities of parking enforcement and other non-urgent matters to civilian personnel rather than police.

The committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in council chambers.

The Chicago Board of Education meets Aug. 28, 2025. [Livestream]

The Chicago Board of Education approved the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) superintendent’s proposed 2026 budget on Thursday, bucking Mayor Brandon Johnson and his allies and leaving the city potentially on the hook once more for covering pensions for non-teacher staff. 

Cook County Comm. Kevin Morrison's chief of staff, Ted Mason, is running to replace him as 15th District commissioner. [Provided] 

Ted Mason, a Democrat that’s declared his candidacy for the 15th District seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, said his experience working in government at the local, state and federal levels has prepared him to succeed if elected to the county board.