Chicago Fire Department
Change Highlights and Context
- CFD saw a $10.9 million decrease in salaries and wages on payroll but an $8.5 million increase in the Professional and Technical Services (outside contracting) appropriation account, shifting at least some of the budget from city employees to private contractors.
- Overall headcount is up a net five positions, with the largest reductions in the Firefighter – EMT – Recruit (-66 positions), Firefighter (-35 positions), and Firefighter – Paramedic (-11 positions) titles, and the largest increase in the Firefighter – EMT title (+121 positions)
Chicago Commission on Human Relations
CCHR is the investigatory and enforcement agency for Chicago’s Human Rights and Fair Housing ordinances. The Commission also provides support for hate crime victims and oversees advisory councils on equity, LGBTQ+ issues, new Americans, veterans’ affairs, and women.
Change Highlights and Context
- One of the city’s smallest departments by budget and headcount, most of CCHR’s budget increase in the 2023 budget comes from rising salary and benefits costs and the addition of one new position.
Office of Emergency Management and Communications
In addition to being the city’s disaster readiness and management department, OEMC oversees the city’s traffic management staff and technology and operates the 911 and 311 call centers.
Change Highlights and Context
- One new Manager of 3-1-1 Operations role is the only new position in the 2023 OEMC budget. There was also a title reclassification from Police Communications Operator II to Police Communications Operator-Trainer, but no change in the staffing level for that role.
- OEMC’s budget cut was primarily driven by the elimination of the Machinery and Equipment appropriation, which in the 2022 budget was $6.3 million. It is not clear from the budget if this represents a shift in equipment purchasing to another department, or a planned freeze on machinery and equipment purchases for 2023.
