Better Government Association Policy Report Reveals Chicago Oversight Agencies Don’t Meet Required Budget Minimums

CHICAGO (WLS) — An analysis by BGA Policy reveals that the budgets for three of Chicago’s oversight bodies don’t meet the minimum legal requirements.

This is reflected in how the city handles fringe costs.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

While creating the city’s yearly budget, costs for pensions and benefits, known as fringe, are not specified within departmental budgets. Instead, they are grouped under a citywide section labeled “Finance General.” As a result, agencies such as COPA, OIG, and CCPSA do not have these expenses itemized in their budgets. This aggregation is used to justify that oversight agencies are meeting budget thresholds, even though the details are not transparently displayed.

The city’s Office of Budget and Management released a statement asserting, “The City of Chicago’s Office of Budget and Management (OBM) fully complies with all municipal code stipulations regarding required budget benchmarks for oversight bodies, including the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA).

We recognize that the Better Government Association (BGA) has particular opinions on how these budget minimums should be structured. This signifies a difference in policy perspective rather than a conflict over the City’s interpretation or application of the current regulations.

OBM’s duty is to implement City laws as they are written. While we respect the rights of external entities to express their policy opinions, OBM will persist in adhering to City ordinances while responsibly managing resources in a sustainable manner.”

You can read the Better Government Association’s full report here.