Alex Nitkin
@alexnitkin.bsky.social
Government Finance & Accountability reporter,
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: Anitkin@bettergov.org
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: Anitkin@bettergov.org
At a series of meetings last year, residents in the collar counties begged for better transit. Still, some leaders are opting to take even more money out of transportation in favor of law enforcement.
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
At a series of meetings last year, residents in the collar counties begged for better transit. Still, some leaders are opting to take even more money out of transportation in favor of law enforcement.
A proposal emerged this spring that would have clawed back the RTA tax dollars for use by a new regional transportation authority.
County leaders fought back, saying it would deprive them of money they need for street resurfacing, cops and courts.
County leaders fought back, saying it would deprive them of money they need for street resurfacing, cops and courts.
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
A proposal emerged this spring that would have clawed back the RTA tax dollars for use by a new regional transportation authority.
County leaders fought back, saying it would deprive them of money they need for street resurfacing, cops and courts.
County leaders fought back, saying it would deprive them of money they need for street resurfacing, cops and courts.
The funding mismatch is allowed thanks to a 2008 state law that was negotiated, in part, by a DuPage County state legislator named Kirk Dillard.
We talked to Dillard, who now chairs the RTA. He disavowed his role in the loophole being added.
We talked to Dillard, who now chairs the RTA. He disavowed his role in the loophole being added.
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The funding mismatch is allowed thanks to a 2008 state law that was negotiated, in part, by a DuPage County state legislator named Kirk Dillard.
We talked to Dillard, who now chairs the RTA. He disavowed his role in the loophole being added.
We talked to Dillard, who now chairs the RTA. He disavowed his role in the loophole being added.
Huynh released this video of the encounter:
October 22, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Huynh released this video of the encounter:
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
October 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
October 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
City employee headcount continues to decline under mayor's proposal, with 443 fewer full-time equivalent employees in '26 than '25.
ARP funds, which must be spent by 12/31/26, to back eight city positions next year.
(Reminder: City has not provided a list of ARP-funded employees)
ARP funds, which must be spent by 12/31/26, to back eight city positions next year.
(Reminder: City has not provided a list of ARP-funded employees)
October 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
City employee headcount continues to decline under mayor's proposal, with 443 fewer full-time equivalent employees in '26 than '25.
ARP funds, which must be spent by 12/31/26, to back eight city positions next year.
(Reminder: City has not provided a list of ARP-funded employees)
ARP funds, which must be spent by 12/31/26, to back eight city positions next year.
(Reminder: City has not provided a list of ARP-funded employees)
.@chicagosmayor.bsky.social is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
October 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
.@chicagosmayor.bsky.social is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
So can Chicago balance its books by trimming ARPA-funded programs it can no longer afford? The city might get some savings here, but not much, considering almost all the fed $$ replaced lost revenue during the pandemic or paid for grants and contracts that have already expired.
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
So can Chicago balance its books by trimming ARPA-funded programs it can no longer afford? The city might get some savings here, but not much, considering almost all the fed $$ replaced lost revenue during the pandemic or paid for grants and contracts that have already expired.
So then why can't city departments right-size their staffing after they grew so much?
Well, because...they didn't. Chicago's employee headcount has been mostly stable since 2015, and in 2025 the city actually budgeted for 500 *fewer* employees than it did in 2019.
Well, because...they didn't. Chicago's employee headcount has been mostly stable since 2015, and in 2025 the city actually budgeted for 500 *fewer* employees than it did in 2019.
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
So then why can't city departments right-size their staffing after they grew so much?
Well, because...they didn't. Chicago's employee headcount has been mostly stable since 2015, and in 2025 the city actually budgeted for 500 *fewer* employees than it did in 2019.
Well, because...they didn't. Chicago's employee headcount has been mostly stable since 2015, and in 2025 the city actually budgeted for 500 *fewer* employees than it did in 2019.
Next: the biggest driver of Corporate Fund growth has been a legally mandated ramp-up in pension contributions, crowding out other spending. In 2019, 63% of the city’s property tax collections went straight to pension contributions. In 2025, it's 81%.
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Next: the biggest driver of Corporate Fund growth has been a legally mandated ramp-up in pension contributions, crowding out other spending. In 2019, 63% of the city’s property tax collections went straight to pension contributions. In 2025, it's 81%.
First important piece of context that often gets lost: most budget growth has been driven by outside funds (state & federal grants, special enterprise funds tied to the airports, etc). The Corporate Fund, the city's general fund that pays most city salaries, has grown more slowly
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
First important piece of context that often gets lost: most budget growth has been driven by outside funds (state & federal grants, special enterprise funds tied to the airports, etc). The Corporate Fund, the city's general fund that pays most city salaries, has grown more slowly
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
OK here's the ordinance language:
ADUs only allowed in RS zones if they're in the existing pilot areas. The council can pass ordinances (presumably with backing of the local alder) to expand allowance, with any of the following restrictions attached.
ADUs only allowed in RS zones if they're in the existing pilot areas. The council can pass ordinances (presumably with backing of the local alder) to expand allowance, with any of the following restrictions attached.
September 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
OK here's the ordinance language:
ADUs only allowed in RS zones if they're in the existing pilot areas. The council can pass ordinances (presumably with backing of the local alder) to expand allowance, with any of the following restrictions attached.
ADUs only allowed in RS zones if they're in the existing pilot areas. The council can pass ordinances (presumably with backing of the local alder) to expand allowance, with any of the following restrictions attached.
Summary provided here: new draft ordinance empowers individual alders to restrict or allow construction of ADUs in RS (single-family home) zones, with no such restrictions in RT (two-flat, small apartment building) zones.
September 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Summary provided here: new draft ordinance empowers individual alders to restrict or allow construction of ADUs in RS (single-family home) zones, with no such restrictions in RT (two-flat, small apartment building) zones.
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
September 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
August 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
But if you think cutting vacancies would be a good way to control spending, consider that many of those same departments dished 100s of millions in overtime pay last year!
This is organized labor's argument against layoffs: they'd end up costing the city more through increased overtime.
This is organized labor's argument against layoffs: they'd end up costing the city more through increased overtime.
August 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
But if you think cutting vacancies would be a good way to control spending, consider that many of those same departments dished 100s of millions in overtime pay last year!
This is organized labor's argument against layoffs: they'd end up costing the city more through increased overtime.
This is organized labor's argument against layoffs: they'd end up costing the city more through increased overtime.
Check this chart of "carryover vacancies," ie full-time positions the city keeps on its spending ledger that went unfilled for a full year from 1/1/24-1/1/25.
CPD, the city's largest department by far, leads with nearly 800 chronic vacancies.
CPD, the city's largest department by far, leads with nearly 800 chronic vacancies.
August 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Check this chart of "carryover vacancies," ie full-time positions the city keeps on its spending ledger that went unfilled for a full year from 1/1/24-1/1/25.
CPD, the city's largest department by far, leads with nearly 800 chronic vacancies.
CPD, the city's largest department by far, leads with nearly 800 chronic vacancies.
Chicago might end up being superseded by state legislators, who are considering a bill that would prohibit cities from banning ADUs. The bill is backed by Illinois Realtors and Gov. JB Pritzker has signaled support.
ilga.gov/legislation/...
(6/6)
ilga.gov/legislation/...
(6/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Chicago might end up being superseded by state legislators, who are considering a bill that would prohibit cities from banning ADUs. The bill is backed by Illinois Realtors and Gov. JB Pritzker has signaled support.
ilga.gov/legislation/...
(6/6)
ilga.gov/legislation/...
(6/6)
Also getting in the way of ADU legalization: Chicago is 2 years into negotiations with @HUDgov over aldermanic prerogative, which fed officials ruled in 2023 effectuates racial segregation.
City attorneys say Lawson's compromise ordinance could weaken the city's position.
(5/6)
City attorneys say Lawson's compromise ordinance could weaken the city's position.
(5/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Also getting in the way of ADU legalization: Chicago is 2 years into negotiations with @HUDgov over aldermanic prerogative, which fed officials ruled in 2023 effectuates racial segregation.
City attorneys say Lawson's compromise ordinance could weaken the city's position.
(5/6)
City attorneys say Lawson's compromise ordinance could weaken the city's position.
(5/6)
Ald. Bennett Lawson last year pitched a compromise ordinance to legalize ADUs citywide, but with some additional regulations in low-density neighborhoods.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is blocking it, insisting on by-right citywide legalization.
Stalemate remains in place.
(4/6)
Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is blocking it, insisting on by-right citywide legalization.
Stalemate remains in place.
(4/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Ald. Bennett Lawson last year pitched a compromise ordinance to legalize ADUs citywide, but with some additional regulations in low-density neighborhoods.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is blocking it, insisting on by-right citywide legalization.
Stalemate remains in place.
(4/6)
Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is blocking it, insisting on by-right citywide legalization.
Stalemate remains in place.
(4/6)
The Chicago City Council isn't sold on ADUs. Alders' main objection: allowing new homes by right would run afoul of "aldermanic prerogative," the unwritten rule that council members should have veto power over any new development in their own ward.
(3/6)
(3/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The Chicago City Council isn't sold on ADUs. Alders' main objection: allowing new homes by right would run afoul of "aldermanic prerogative," the unwritten rule that council members should have veto power over any new development in their own ward.
(3/6)
(3/6)
Other cities have shown that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — a term used to describe coach houses and unused basement spaces converted into garden apartments — can open up affordable, unsubsidized housing options in rich neighborhoods.
(2/6)
(2/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Other cities have shown that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — a term used to describe coach houses and unused basement spaces converted into garden apartments — can open up affordable, unsubsidized housing options in rich neighborhoods.
(2/6)
(2/6)