{"id":2339155,"date":"2024-09-10T12:39:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T16:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-announces-hiring-freeze-in-face-of-billion-dollar-budget-crisis-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-10T12:47:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T16:47:21","slug":"chicago-announces-hiring-freeze-in-face-of-billion-dollar-budget-crisis-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-announces-hiring-freeze-in-face-of-billion-dollar-budget-crisis-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago announces hiring freeze in face of billion-dollar budget \u2018crisis\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-announces-hiring-freeze-in-face-of-billion-dollar-budget-crisis-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2339155&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Chicago \u2063has announced a\u200d hiring freeze\u2064 in response \u2064to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dont-look-up-orwellian-ai-traffic-cameras-raise-privacy-concerns\/\" title=\"AI traffic cameras that resemble something out of George Orwell&#039;s dystopian novel, &quot;1984,&quot; are causing worries about privacy.\">projected budget shortfall<\/a> of approximately $982.4 million for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/defense-stocks-outperform-after-russian-invasion-of-ukraine\/\" title=\"Defense Stocks &#039;Outperform&#039; After Russian Invasion of Ukraine\">fiscal year 2025<\/a>. \u200dThis decision, disclosed by Budget Director Annette\u200c Guzman, aims to\u2064 tackle rising personnel,\u200d pension,\u200c and contractual costs alongside ongoing revenue challenges. The freeze, which is part of broader budgetary\u2064 restrictions\u2062 including \u200blimitations on non-essential \u200dtravel and overtime spending outside\u200b of \u2062public safety, is established amid \u2063a \u2064significant $222.9\u2064 million year-end projected deficit. Despite the need for fiscal management during uncertain times, \u200bconcerns remain\u200c regarding potential impacts\u200b on public safety, particularly since police and fire departments have typically been exempt \u2063from such freezes. This move \u200chas been characterized by\u2064 some,\u2064 such as \u2063Joseph Ferguson from the Civic Federation, as an opportunity to reevaluate\u200c potential inefficiencies \u2062in city spending.\u200c The duration of the hiring \u2063freeze has \u200bnot\u2063 yet been specified.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Chicago announces hiring freeze in face of billion-dollar budget &lsquo;crisis&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1757139\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chicago<\/a> announced a hiring freeze as it prepares to face a nearly billion-dollar budget shortfall next year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman said the freeze will address the looming $982.4 million budget gap in fiscal 2025, which she says is being driven by &ldquo;rising personnel, pension, and contractual costs, alongside ongoing revenue challenges.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>It is unclear at this time how long the freeze will last.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Effective today, we are enacting a series of budgetary restrictions, including a citywide hiring freeze and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-allows-idaho-to-enforce-near-total-abortion-ban-in-emergency-rooms\/\" title=\"Idaho can enforce near-total abortion ban in ERs, SCOTUS rules\">stringent limitations<\/a> on non-essential travel and overtime expenditures outside of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/philadelphia-resorting-to-appointing-civilians-for-police-work-amid-cop-shortage\/\" title=\"Philadelphia Resorting to Appointing Civilians for Police Work Amid Cop Shortage\">public safety operations<\/a>,&rdquo; she said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicago.gov\/city\/en\/depts\/mayor\/press_room\/press_releases\/2024\/september\/Budget-Director-Annette-Guzman-Statement.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These measures, while necessary, reflect our commitment to responsible fiscal management during a time of financial uncertainty,&rdquo; Guzman continued.<\/p>\n<p>She said the hiring freeze will also address the $222.9 million year-end projected deficit, which Guzman said is driven by &ldquo;a decline in specific revenue streams.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Joseph Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-border-crisis-is-about-to-get-way-worse-next-month\/\" title=\"The Border Crisis Is About to Get Way Worse Next Month\">nonpartisan research organization<\/a>, said the city is in a fiscal &ldquo;crisis&rdquo; but said the hiring freeze could give the city an opportunity to reassess wasteful spending.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My hope is that this is a moment where there is focus on the public administration part of this, the expenditure side of this. The city is absolutely filled to the gills with all sorts of waste and inefficiency,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Police and fire have typically been exempted from previous hiring freezes in Chicago, but police will be included this time around.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everything&rsquo;s got to be on the table, and a hiring freeze for non-essentials we certainly should be doing, but if we&rsquo;re talking about at the expense of public safety, that&rsquo;s got me concerned,&rdquo; 19th Ward Alderman Matt O&rsquo;Shea <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/chicago-budget-director-announces-citywide-hiring-freeze-response-1b-deficit-projected-2025\/15282743\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> ABC 7 Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the freeze, Chicago Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brandon-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Brandon Johnson<\/a> said &ldquo;sacrifices&rdquo; will have to be made to close the 2024 and 2025 budget deficits, but he did not go into detail about said sacrifices. His official recommendations for cuts are expected to be made public in October, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/blockclubchicago.org\/2024\/09\/09\/mayor-johnson-enacting-city-hiring-freeze-limiting-overtime-to-combat-chicagos-budget-woes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><em>Block Club Chicago<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There has not been a determination on whether or not we&rsquo;re going to have to have to make any cuts. This is just a snapshot, right?&rdquo; Johnson said. &ldquo;I am still very much resolved to continue to make these critical investments in housing, mental health, youth employment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also implemented a citywide hiring freeze before her first budget for the city as it was facing a deficit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1757139\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1757139\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago has implemented a hiring freeze in response to an impending budget shortfall of nearly one billion dollars for the upcoming year. Budget Director Annette Guzman stated that this freeze aims to tackle the projected $982.4 million deficit for fiscal 2025, which is attributed to increasing costs related to personnel, pensions, and contracts, as well as ongoing revenue issues. The duration of the hiring freeze remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>Guzman announced that starting today, a series of budgetary restrictions will be put in place, including a citywide hiring freeze and strict limits on non-essential travel and overtime outside public safety operations. She emphasized that these actions are necessary for responsible financial management during this period of uncertainty. The hiring freeze is also intended to help mitigate a projected year-end deficit of $222.9 million caused by declines in certain revenue sources.<\/p>\n<p>Joseph Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation\u2014a nonpartisan research organization\u2014described the city&#8217;s situation as a fiscal &#8220;crisis&#8221; but suggested that the hiring freeze could provide an opportunity to reevaluate wasteful spending practices within city administration. He expressed hope that this moment would lead to greater focus on reducing inefficiencies.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, police and fire departments have been exempt from previous hiring freezes; however, they will be included this time around. Alderman Matt O&#8217;Shea voiced concerns about potential impacts on public safety while supporting necessary measures for non-essential positions.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Mayor Brandon Johnson indicated that &#8220;sacrifices&#8221; would need to be made in order to address budget deficits for 2024 and 2025 but did not specify what those sacrifices might entail. His official recommendations regarding cuts are expected later in October.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson noted there has not yet been a decision on whether cuts will be required but emphasized his commitment to continuing critical investments in areas such as housing, mental health services, and youth employment initiatives. This move follows a similar action taken by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2019 when she instituted a citywide hiring freeze amid budget challenges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2339156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/chicago-city-hall.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40168,4387,5045,40544],"class_list":["post-2339155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-budget-crisis","tag-chicago","tag-government","tag-hiring-freeze"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/chicago-city-hall.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2339155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2339155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2339155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2339155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}