A BGA Policy analysis of the 16 county detention centers across Illinois has found that only three successfully have completed audits mandated by federal law to enforce protections against sexual […]
Research & Analysis
Chicago’s City Council Spends One-Third of Its Meetings on Honorary Speeches
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 […]
Illinois Legislative Oversight is Weak Compared to Other States
Legislative watchdog is ill-equipped compared to other Illinois watchdogs
How Illinois Courts Are Hidden From FOIA
Transparency allows the people of Illinois to see into the inner workings of their government and hold their elected officials accountable. But there is still one area shrouded in darkness: the judicial branch of Illinois government.
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.
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
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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