(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The news that the City of Chicago is facing a nearly $1 billion budget gap next year, has some in the world of public policy predicting possible fixes.
“I think we'll see a hiring freeze, probably a temporary hiring freeze. We'll probably see some cuts to some programs that were put in place during COVID,” said Justin Marlowe, a research professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.
He says those will likely be among the more noticeable changes the city makes, but he adds that's far less drastic than a big property tax increase or massive cuts to public services.
“Those sorts of moves are never popular, that's for sure, but I think, being in an election year, does – if nothing else – creates some uncertainty.
Marlowe says another area of uncertainty is funding for migrants and how much could potentially come from state or federal sources following the election.
“The projected deficit includes an expanded spending on the migrant crisis, which, of course, is top of mind for many people in Chicago."
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