The City Council will convene for a special meeting called by five alderpeople Thursday to consider referendum questions proposed for the March ballot. And a council committee is set to vote on the renewal, expansion and creation of four special service areas throughout the city. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) speaks during a news conference Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

The proposal to ask voters whether they want to increase the real estate transfer tax for property sales over $1 million and use the money to help eradicate homelessness took a giant leap forward on Tuesday as alderpeople voted 32-16 to send it to the City Council for final approval.

Members of the City Council Committee on Finance met Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

A public hearing on the proposed 2024 budget, the official introduction of proposed amendments to next year’s budget and a scheduled vote on the proposal to hike the real estate transfer tax for properties that sell for more than $1 million and use the revenue to curb homelessness. All of that and more are on tap for Wednesday’s City Council meeting as alderpeople attempt to take care of regular business while simultaneously working toward approving next year’s spending plan.

Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha answers questions during a county board committee meeting Oct. 31, 2023. [Livestream]

Cook County commissioners received information about the county health and hospitals system’s use of staffing agencies to temporarily fill organizational vacancies during a joint hearing of the County Finance and Health and Hospitals committees Tuesday.

Outgoing Cook County Health (CCH) CEO Israel Rocha told commissioners, similar to a budget hearing last week, that while vacancies continue to present a challenge to CCH and agency spending is higher than the system would like, some progress has been made. 

The workforce development committee met Monday. [City of Chicago livestream] 

A vote scheduled for Monday on a proposal to expand paid time off and sick days for Chicago workers was delayed after members of the Aldermanic Black Caucus said they and Black business owners were not involved in negotiations on the ordinance.

The housing committee met Monday. [City of Chicago livestream] 

The city on Monday took a step forward in its plan to buy a shuttered Jewel near the intersection of 115th Street and Halsted Street to be used most immediately as shelter for migrants. 

Members of the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved the proposal (O2023-0005042) during their Monday morning meeting, teeing it up for final council approval on Wednesday.  

The Bring Chicago Home proposal to ask voters whether they want to increase the real estate transfer tax for property sales over $1 million and use the money to help eradicate homelessness will face a key committee vote Tuesday. 

The City Council Committee on Committees and Rules is scheduled to vote on the resolution (R2023-0004166) and two other questions proposed for the spring 2024 ballot at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A temporary chief executive officer for the county’s health and hospitals system could be appointed Tuesday ahead of a joint county committee hearing on the vacancies plaguing Cook County Health and the spending on staffing agencies to plug the vacant roles. 

Additionally, the county has opened up applications for agencies looking to help with an initiative to save and divert wasteful criminal justice and public safety spending.

Chicago Board of Elections Executive Director Charles Holiday, Jr. answers questions during a budget hearing Friday

The Chicago Board of Elections explained its declining budget for 2024 during the final day of city budget hearings Friday.

During the hearing, Executive Director Charles Holiday, Jr. explained to members of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations the board’s budget is set to drop from $56.6 million in 2023 to about $34.5 million in 2024. The drop is attributable to the municipal elections that occurred in 2023, which accounted for a higher 2023 budget. Even though the city will assist in administering the 2024 general election, the city shares those costs with the county.

City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin speaks during a budget hearing Friday. [Livestream]

On the final day of budget hearings, the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations heard from the city treasurer, administrative hearings department and human resources department about their work for the upcoming year.

Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry speaks during a budget hearing Friday. [Livestream]

Officials from the Chicago Department of Law answered questions from alderpeople about legal payouts to victims of law enforcement misconduct on the final day of 2024 budget hearings.

The law department budget would grow by 1.7 percent up to $46.4 million in 2024, budget documents show, though staffing is set to remain flat at 427 budgeted positions.  

Alderpersons and advocates held a news conference in July to introduce an ordinance that would expand paid leave. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople will get the chance to publicly discuss a proposal introduced this year to expand paid leave for Chicago workers during an 11:30 a.m. meeting of the City Council Committee on Workforce Development.

The final scheduled day of budget hearings is set to be a marathon day as the Department of Law, Chicago Board of Elections, Department of Human Resources, City Treasurer and the Department of Administrative Hearings will detail and defend their 2024 spending plans.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas presented her budget to county commissioners Thursday and was largely lauded by commissioners, who had few questions and more praise. The treasurer spoke about her office’s technological advancements and said in the upcoming year it will pursue the integration of artificial intelligence into its systems.

The treasurer’s office, which collects countywide property taxes and distributes tax revenues to approximately 2,200 local government agencies, is set to receive a $15.5 million budget under President Toni Preckwinkle’s 2024 budget proposal. 

County Assessor Fritz Kaegi gives a presentation on his office's 2024 budget Wednesday. [Livestream]

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi said property tax appeals have declined thanks to the assessor’s office’s transparency efforts and previewed the upcoming reassessment of Chicago in the upcoming year during a budget hearing Wednesday.

Cook County commissioners were able to ask the assessor questions about his office’s budget, which is set to rise by over $1 million — or three percent — under Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s 2024 budget plan, according to a presentation shown to commissioners. The assessor’s office is also set to add 10 new positions next year, mostly within the office’s valuations department.