Daley's $6B City Budget Gets Preliminary OK
CHICAGO (WBBM) - Chicago Aldermen have given preliminary approval to Mayor Richard M. Daley's more than $6 billion budget with little debate and few real changes.
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Civic watchdog groups and some aldermen have criticized Chicago's 2011 budget for relying on one-time revenue like the city's reserve funds and for avoiding tough decisions on cutting services or raising taxes.
But, the City Council Budget Committee quickly endorsed the spending plan, setting it up for key votes of approval this week and next.
Some say the aldermen are putting off the hard choices until after the elections in February 2011 and leaving those up to a new mayor.
But Committee chair Ald. Carrie Austin says no. They would not do that.
Aldermen had complained about a plan to cut funds for local chambers of commerce, but the Daley administration found the money to restore the spending.
