One Budget Down, One Budget To Go
Time to shift from CPS to City.
We almost couldn’t believe it when we saw the final vote tally: 12-7-1 in favor of Interim CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King’s proposed budget. It felt as though the mayor’s appointees and CTU-backed members finally took their constituents’ feedback seriously and changed course. Ultimately, we succeeded in putting students first. (Click below if you haven’t had a chance to watch.)
The Board of Education approved a $10.2 billion budget for the 2025–2026 school year, closing a $734 million deficit through measures such as $126 million in central office cuts, a hiring freeze, and new revenues. The plan assumes approximately $379 million in TIF surplus, including about $79 million more than previously projected. Importantly, the budget avoided a controversial short-term loan proposal of up to $300 million, backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, which would have shifted responsibility for making the $175 million MBEAF pension payment onto CPS.
A recent ad from Common Ground Collective highlights who voted in favor. Notably, Cydney Wallace, Ed Bannon, and Anusha Thotakura were all mayoral appointees. Elected members Yesenia Lopez and Ebony DeBerry were endorsed by CTU in last year’s election, while Jennifer Custer, also CTU-endorsed, broke from their agenda early on and has since become an instrumental voice for a responsible, children-first approach.
Why Collaborating Matters
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment that we forget the groundwork it took to get here. This budget approval is the result of months of collaboration among many groups—but the seed was planted a year ago, when people who weren’t typically engaged in the process decided to step up during the school board election. Without last year’s victories—helping elect leaders like Therese Boyle, Angel Gutierrez, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Ellen Rosenfeld, Carlos Rivas Jr., and Jessica Biggs—this outcome would not have been possible.
Much like the community collaboration that helped bring about Eileen O’Neill Burke’s victory in Cook County, last year’s school board election set the stage for this moment. Now, it’s up to us to carry that momentum into next year’s election and the fast-approaching municipal race.
Next Up: City of Chicago Budget
Mayor Johnson’s office released the FY 2026 Budget Forecast, confirming a $146 million deficit in 2025 and a projected $1.15 billion gap for 2026. The widening gap reflects rising costs in wages, healthcare, and pensions ($629 million in growth), combined with structural revenue shortfalls, shrinking federal aid, and anticipated state cuts.
Key findings from the Mayor’s Office press release:
Revenues: Corporate Fund revenues are projected at $5.26 billion in 2026, a 9.1% decline relative to 2025, reflecting the loss of $424.6 million in one-time resources and continued uncertainty around CPS pension reimbursements.
Expenditures: Corporate Fund expenditures are projected at $6.41 billion in 2026, an increase of 10.7% relative to 2025, driven by personnel services ($4.16 billion), pensions ($907.8 million), and contractual services ($617.6 million).
Pensions: Since 2023, the City has made more than $820 million in supplemental contributions to slow the growth of unfunded liabilities. For 2026, the Corporate Fund’s share of pension obligations totals $907.8 million, including $219.4 million in supplemental payments.
Word is that a proposal may be coming to cut $300 million from the Chicago Police Department. While crime has improved under Superintendent Larry Snelling and Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, public safety remains the top priority for residents.
Public Safety
In July, a majority of CCPSA members voted to support new restrictions on CPD’s authority to conduct certain traffic stops. This was not a final vote, as the Commission has requested additional public input. To participate in the survey—which takes less than a minute—click here.
Chicago Commission on Human Relations Hearing
Later this morning, the CCHR will host a public hearing on anti-Jewish hate crimes, hate incidents, and hate-based tensions. This follows the July incident report, which indicated that anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 58%. In a Tribune article published that month, Alderman Debra Silverstein called on Mayor Johnson to show stronger leadership and ensure that CCHR, led by Nancy Andrade, would hold fair and balanced hearings.
It is expected that Alderman Rosanna Rodriguez-Sanchez will be among the subject-matter witnesses. If true, this would be a tremendous disappointment given how openly anti-Zionist she has been—though, unfortunately, it would be par for the course from the mayor.