Department of Housing The Department of Housing oversees a range of housing programs including homeowner and homebuyer resources, the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance (which mandates a certain number of designated-affordable […]
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 inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Family and Support Services, Board of Election Commissioners, Department of Administrative Hearings and License Appeal Commission
Department of Family and Support Services DFSS is Chicago’s umbrella organization for a number of social support programs, including the city’s children and elderly care, homeless assistance, domestic violence prevention […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Assets, Information and Services, Department of Procurement Services and Chicago Animal Care and Control
Department of Assets, Information and Services The Department of Assets, Information and Services, which oversees the city’s physical buildings and facilities, motor pool and IT infrastructure, was created in the […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Water Management, Department of Buildings and Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
Department of Water Management The Department of Water Management oversees treatment and delivery of the city’s drinking water and the first stages of wastewater and runoff removal. Wastewater treatment and […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Department of Human Resources, City Clerk, and City Treasurer
Department of Human Resources The city’s Department of Human Resources manages the city’s hiring, firing and employee discipline administration, including the civil service testing and application process. DHR also manages […]
Posted inPolicy
BGA Budget Hearings Snapshot: Office of Budget and Management, Mayor’s Office and Department of Finance
Office of Budget and Management The Office of Budget and Management oversees the city’s budget, including preparing and presenting the annual budget. OBM hearings typically include questions from alderpersons about […]
Posted inPolicy
Budget Analysis: Chicago’s Office of Public Safety Administration Cost City More Than It Saved
New department created $4.3 million in staffing savings but $139.8 million in overhead costs.
Posted inPolicy
Budget Analysis: Merger of Chicago’s Information Technology, Fleet and Facility Departments Slowed Spending Growth
New Department of Assets, Information and Services reduced spending growth by $1.8 million per year post-merger, exceeding $1 million savings target.
Posted inPolicy
Analysis: Skipped Votes in Chicago’s City Council, Remote Meetings vs. In-Person
A Better Government Association Policy Team analysis of City Council’s voting patterns found a sharp increase in missed votes after meetings went remote during the pandemic.
Posted inPolicy
Inspectors General: Chicago Among Nation’s Strongest But Lacks Power to Publish Reports
A BGA Policy comparison of major U.S. cities found Chicago’s Office of Inspector General among the strongest watchdog agencies in the nation — but it lacks independent authority to release its findings to the public, keeping Chicago out of the top-tier cities for governmental oversight.