Hub budget hits headwinds
‘Lack of enthusiasm’ voiced by council, with some voting against proposal
The city’s budget faces a slog to get it over the finish line by the deadline next week, with multiple councilors expressing reservations about Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s proposal.
City Councilor Andrea Campbell, who’s running for mayor against Janey, called a press conference Tuesday morning to declare that she would be voting against it.
“I did not have a meaningful opportunity to weigh in,” Campbell said, adding that Janey’s budget doesn’t do enough in terms of major police reform or around improving the conditions on the Methadone Mile.
Campbell was the only one of the 12 active councilors to come out with a firm position for or against the $3.76 billion amended budget that Janey submitted this week and is due to be introduced Wednesday. But several voiced concerns about the budget, which could be in hot water given that a quarter of the council is running for mayor and thus is disincentivized from voting with Janey — and the fact that Janey hasn’t done the normal glad-handing.
“The mayor needs to be more personally involved” in order to get the bill over the hump by the vote planned for June 30, one city council source told the Herald.
That’s the last day before the fiscal year ends, and if the budget doesn’t pass, the city would go to a monthto-month “1/12 budget,” which would level-fund city services but not account for contractually obligated increases.
At-Large Councilor Michael Flaherty said he’s doing his “due diligence” and reviewing the budget, but, “At this point with a week still left to go before a final vote, I’m a no.” He said he plans to meet with Janey this week.
City Councilor Lydia Edwards said she’s “not there yet,” and of the general feeling on the council, added that “there’s a collective lack of enthusiasm with this budget.”
Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley said he “still has some concerns” about the budget but will continue working with the administration.
Janey’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The other two mayoral candidates on the council — at-large councilors Annissa Essaibi-George and Michelle Wu — wouldn’t bite on a yes-or-no question about how they’ll vote.
Essaibi-George said in a statement she’s “still considering” what to do, but said, “In previous years, I’ve enjoyed working hand in hand with the former administration through the budgeting process, however, this year, I’ve been very disappointed with the lack of communication and collaboration coming from the Janey Administration.”
Wu said she’s “reviewing the budget resubmission and engaging with my colleagues and the administration on the full context of proposed changes at our upcoming hearing.”
City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Frank Baker and Ed Flynn said they remain undecided.
Arroyo told the Herald there’s “a lot I like about this budget,” including money for a health center in his Hyde Park district.
Flynn said he will “continue to advocate for our shared priorities,” including pedestrian safety infrastructure and public safety.