Municipal Budget Research Paper

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Municipal Budget Analysis

The objective of this work in writing is to assess the budget of the Municipality of Chicago, Illinois in terms of how well budget documents and auxiliary information address each of these functions. The assessment will be substantiated with examples and information from documents studied. This work will examine a variety of sources including the most recent approved budget of Chicago, Illinois.

The City of Chicago 2011 budget includes provisions of no property tax increases and no new tax, fee, or fine increases to balance the budget. This is to effect that there will be no additional budget to residents already impacted by the recession. Secondly, included is the preservation of $576 million in asset lease funds to protect Chicago's future, which is inclusive of maintaining the entire $500 million Skyway long-term reserve. Third stated is the maintenance of the commitment to provide critical services to Chicago residents, which includes hiring two new police classes in 2011. Finally, it is reported that there are provisions for ongoing better management of government through the reduction of expenditures through eliminating 277 positions, restructuring departments and maintaining the hiring freeze and salary reductions that have been stated in the 2011 City of Chicago budget.

I. Population of Chicago -- Historical and Present

The population of the City of Chicago decreased from the 1970 number of 3,366,957 to the 2009 number of 2,851,268. (2006 American Community Survey)

II. Future Projections for Growth

It was reported by the "Inside' publication that the City of Chicago "took a major step forward in planning for the future of its downtown with the release of the Chicago Central Area Plan, a guide for continued economic success, physical growth and environmental sustainability for the coming decades, earlier this month." (Inside, 2002) It is related that the Central Area Plan is the first downtown plan that the City of Chicago has produced since 1958. (Inside, 2002) The Central Area Plan is reported to be the result of more than two years of talks and reflections on the part of a "broad group of Chicagoans" which includes a 24-member Steering committee of elected officials, government, business and civic leaders worked to assess the challenges ahead and to create a responsive and visionary plan." (Inside, 2002)

Stated as three guiding themes for Chicago's Central Area served as the 'rules of the plan'.

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The Central Area is comprised by "vibrant and diverse mixed-use urban districts, Transportation and Access -- to ensure the Central Area remains accessible and connected and Waterfronts and Open Spaces to reinforce the Central Area's focus on its waterfronts and open spaces." (Inside, 2002) The following key recommendations have bee made by the Central Area Plan:

(1) Expand the Loop's high-density office core into the West Loop around the Chicago River, transit stations and to the Kennedy Expressway between the Fulton and Jackson loft districts.

(2) Re-organize higher density development outside the Loop so that it is focused on major corridors, where transit can be provided and the centers of new urban neighborhoods formed.

(3) Create a new West Loop Transportation Center below Clinton Street, including an exclusive busway, a CTA subway, commuter and inter-city rail.

(4) Complete the development of the Chicago River Corridor throughout the Central Area with a continuous riverwalk and a system of riverside parks. (Inside, 2002)

Enactment of this plan over the next two decades will serve to strengthen "downtown Chicago's economic engine…" expand its parks and open spaces, and extend and improve its rapid transit and roadway systems. (Inside, 2002 paraphrased)

III. Expenditures -- Five Largest Operating Expenditure Categories by Subject/Service Area and the Respective Amounts

The five largest operating expenditures for the 2011 City of Chicago budget are those stated as follows with the corresponding amount of expenditure for each category:

Appropriations

2001 Recommendations

2009 Expenditures

0000 Personnel Services

508,750

461,744

0100 Contractual Services

15,000

33,175

0300 Commodities and Materials

12,000

11,977

0400 Equipment

9,500

9,496

0700 Contingencies

15,000

14,494

Appropriation Total

$560,250

$531,386

Source: City of Chicago Budget Summary 2011

The following two charts contain the revenue and expenditures for the corporate fund for 2011.

Figure 1

2011 Corporate Fund: Revenue and Expenditures

Source: City of Chicago 2011 Budget

IV. Major.....

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