Emanuel Encourages Chicagoans To Weigh In On Budget
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel is encouraging Chicago residents to go online and give their ideas for how the city could save money.
As WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports, suggestions include cutting the number of aldermen and their paychecks, eliminating the security details and city vehicles for elected officials and going truly paperless, among hundreds of others presented at ChicagoBudget.org.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports
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The city's first interactive budget Web site launched less than a week ago.
"The creative ideas streaming into www.ChicagoBudget.org prove the people of Chicago are ready to make the tough decisions necessary to tackle the city's challenges," Mayor Emanuel said in a news release. "My staff, along with City Commissioners, are going to examine these ideas carefully, provide feedback and consider what can be implemented to move our city forward."
In the news release, the Mayor's office says it ordered staffers to follow up with some contributors, as the city grapples with an estimated $635 million budget deficit.
Altogether, ChicagoBudget.org includes more than 2,000 posts and more than 14,000 votes from more than 1,100 users, the Mayor's office says.
