Cook County’s $4.5 billion budget passed the Board of Commissioners by a 12-to-5 vote after hours of haggling over a series of technical amendments.

The Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development met briefly yesterday afternoon to approve a property tax exemption for EDE Corp., the only exhibition display company based in Chicago. The 35-year-old, family-run company sought a Class 6(b) property tax incentive to expand their operations to a neighboring, vacant 35,000-square-foot-industrial building at 3790 W. 74th St. in the 13th Ward. If approved by the full City Council tomorrow, the company would save approximately $254,000 in tax savings over the 12-year period, and could re-apply for the tax break when it expires.

With more than half of the items on the agenda awaiting approval from the Plan Commission, the City Council’s Zoning Committee spent a majority of the meeting approving aldermanic applications to downzone sections of their wards to prevent developers from building “whatever they want” without community input. Most of those zoning changes, pending City Council approval today, are in the 19th Ward on the far South Side of Chicago.

A joint Committee on Budget and Finance will reconvene this morning to vote on new regulations aimed at preventing the future sale of city assets and services without an extensive public review process and independent audit.

With the first ballot petition filing deadline less than a week away, longtime 10th Ward resident Fred Carrizales confirmed to Aldertrack he’s planning to run for Democratic Ward Committeeman, saying he seized an opportunity when former Ald. John Pope (10) decided not to, and is getting pointers from convicted former Hispanic Democratic Organization chief, Al Sanchez.

With only two aldermen raising questions, the appointment of former 31st Ward Ald. Ray Suarez to the nine-member Illinois International Port District (IIPD) Boardpassed the Committee on Transportation and Public Way Tuesday, and will be reported out to the full Council today. His appointment was first introduced in September, but Chairman Anthony Beale (9) held the appointment in committee at the mayor’s request. Beale was absent Tuesday, so Vice Chair Matt O’Shea (19) presided. The position includes a $20,000 annual salary.

An ordinance aimed at making city privatization deals more difficult is the subject of a joint meeting of the Council's Finance and Budget Committees this afternoon.

The City Council’s Finance Committee approved $700,000 in legal settlements involving Chicago police officers, even as some aldermen questioned whether it would have been better to fight the lawsuits in court. An amendment to the recently passed e-cigarette tax and all other routine items on the agenda passed in committee and will be reported out to the full City Council at Wednesday’s meeting.  

The Council Committee on Cultural Affairs and Special Events approved an ordinance yesterday giving the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) the authority to produce public events and festivals for next year, an action the committee must take every year.

The Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation meets at noon today to take up an ordinance that sets the stage for next year’s public festivals, art shows, parades, and other attractions put on by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

A series of revenue measures narrowly passed the Cook County Board of Commissioners’ Finance Committee Friday, clearing the way for passage of Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s $4.5 billion budget proposal this week. Every revenue proposal, including new excise taxes on hotel and Airbnb stays, e-cigarettes, ticket resellers, and ammunition was approved, but largely by divided roll call votes.

The City Council Committee on Finance is scheduled to vote on $700,000 in legal settlements against Chicago police officers, amend the recently passed e-cigarette tax, and terminate the first of four downtown TIF districts.

The Finance Committee meets today for another round of public hearings on proposed changes to three Special Service Areas (SSAs). Local residents and businesses will have an opportunity to express support or opposition to expanding the 71st St./Stony Island SSA (#42) and the 103rd St./Beverly SSA (#44), in addition to terminating the existing agreement for the State Street SSA (#1) and replacing it with a new plan with new boundaries.

The City Council’s Aviation Committee approved new regulations for drone operators in Chicago after more than two hours of public testimony and debate on the issue; a new fee for private shuttle services that take people to and from O’Hare and Midway Airports; and a new premium parking and reservation program.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners’ Committee on Finance meets today to take a number of tight votes on revenue options and amendments to be included in the full budget vote next week: changes to the amusement tax, an amendment doubling the proposed e-cigarette tax, new taxes on ammunition and hotel stays, plus a deal (and an amendment to that deal) to allow extra contributions to the County pension fund.