CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The head of government watchdog group says Chicago needs a'' Plan B'' for funding the migrant crisis in the city.
To be clear, overall, the Civic Federation supports Mayor Johnson's budget plans, but Federation acting President Sarah Wetmore said there are some concerns. For one, she said the city uses one-time revenue sources to help close a persistent budget gap.
On another matter, Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget allocates $150 million for housing and caring for the asylum seekers who keep arriving here, but, by the city's own estimates, it will cost at least $360 million. The mayor said the state and federal governments must do more.
"There needs to be a plan B for what happens if the federal government or city and state leaders aren't able to find additional funds for funding these services," Wetmore said.
She mentioned the city does have some reserves it can tap into, but they are usually for one-time emergencies.
"That's in an emergency that those funds tapped or for the use of one-time expenditures."
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