Chicago’s City Council is off to a slow start in 2023: Only about 40% of its time in session so far this year – or about two of every five […]
Geoffrey Cubbage
Geoffrey Cubbage is a policy and budget analyst focusing on the Illinois General Assembly and Chicago's City Council. Prior to joining the Better Government Association in 2022, Geoffrey served as Director of Policy and Economic Development for Chicago's 40th Ward.
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Analysis: Cost of Chicago Legal Judgments and Settlements
Despite improvements in budgeting for lawsuit costs under the Lightfoot administration, police settlements continue to exceed budgets, while other departments are not required to budget for payments.
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Transportation, Chicago Public Library and Department of Law
Department of Transportation Change Highlights and Context Chicago Public Library Change Highlights and Context Department of Law Change Highlights and Context
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Board of Ethics and Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department The Chicago Police Department is by far the largest of Chicago’s departments in terms of both appropriations and personnel. In the 2023 proposal, CPD’s $1.9 billion budget […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Commission on Human Relations and Office of Emergency Management and Communications
Chicago Fire Department Change Highlights and Context Chicago Commission on Human Relations CCHR is the investigatory and enforcement agency for Chicago’s Human Rights and Fair Housing ordinances. The Commission also […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Office of Public Safety Administration, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
Office of Public Safety Administration The Office of Public Safety Administration was created during the 2020 budget cycle to save costs and eliminate redundancies by consolidating non-uniformed public safety roles. […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Analysis: Chicago Outspends and Outstaffs NYC, LA on Communications and Public Relations
Emanuel-era surge in CPD public relations staff, maintained in Lightfoot’s budgets, puts Chicago ahead of peer cities in comms spending per capita and as a proportion of overall budget
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Office of Inspector General and Chicago Department of Aviation
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Change Highlights and Context Office of Inspector General The Office of the Inspector General has jurisdiction to conduct investigations, audits and reviews of […]
Posted inPolicy
Cubbage: It’s Past Time for the City Council To Name Its Own Committee Leadership
There’s no reason for the City Council to maintain its unspoken power-sharing agreement with the mayor when it comes to committees.
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Public Health, Civilian Office of Police Accountability and Chicago Police Board
Department of Public Health Change Highlights and Context Civilian Office of Police Accountability COPA is the city’s investigatory body for several broad categories of police misconduct, including excessive force, death […]