On August 23 at 7 PM, Mayor Daley marched into the gymnasium of Falconer Elementary School, took a seat at the center of a long table, and officially brought this year’s budget hearings to the northwest side.
To start Daley offered a recitation of his administration’s accomplishments–schools built, streets paved, garbage collected, cops put on the street, etc–and a promise to keep taxes low. “Chicago finances are in solid shape, and the city continues to find new ways to save money,” he said. “By holding down expenses, the city has been able to keep the increase in city property taxes well below the rate of inflation. . . . We’ve handled our finances in a very conservative way, always looking to manage government better so we free up funds to reinvest in our people and neighborhoods.”
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It’s hardly an exact science. The city doesn’t know precisely how much it will raise from, say, business licenses or cigarette taxes or any of its other revenue sources. Presumably the higher the tax, the more money it will rake in. But if people stop shopping in Chicago or staying in its hotels because of rising fees and taxes, the increase will be offset. Based as it is on guesswork, the budget can be adjusted to meet the mayor’s political needs.
Having finished his remarks, Daley gave the floor to the people, and one by one they stepped forward to speak their piece. There’s a set routine for these hearings. People who want to speak have to sign up beforehand. Once filled out, speakers’ cards are collected by Volpe, who directs people to the microphone at the center of the room when it’s their turn. There they stand, directly in front of Daley. When blasted he frowns, when praised he smiles. Occasionally he asks a question or cracks a joke. The department heads say nothing.
