Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces 2027 Budget Engagement Roundtables
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with the Mayor's Office of Community Engagement (MOCE) and the Office of Budget and Management (OBM), announced today the launch of the Mayor's Office 2027 Budget Engagement Roundtable events. These roundtables aim to extend community engagement through a new interactive exercise called the Budget Engagement Scenario Game, which invites participants to collaborate and develop shared priorities within a simulated budget framework.

According to Mayor Johnson, "Building safe and affordable communities requires meaningful partnership with the people who call our city home." He believes that these roundtables provide an important opportunity for residents to have a say in the investments that will strengthen their communities for generations to come. The discussions will cover a range of topics including public safety, youth opportunities, housing, mental health services, infrastructure, and economic development.

The roundtables will be held in five different locations across Chicago, with four open to the general public and one specifically focused on input from youth ages 14-24. This allows for direct communication between community members and City officials regarding which services matter most, what programs should be prioritized, and where spending can be realigned.

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To deepen public understanding of the City's annual budget process, the interactive Budget Engagement Scenario Game was developed in partnership with the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. Thea Crum, Associate Director of Neighborhoods Initiative at the Great Cities Institute, explains that "By working through the simulation, participants will discover that budgeting involves more than line items and spreadsheets, it's about values, tradeoffs, and what kind of city we want to build."

Residents are encouraged to visit the FY2027 Budget Engagement website and watch the City's Budget 101 video to learn more about how their input can shape future budgets. They can also provide feedback through the Public Comment Portal or by completing a survey on the website.

In addition to attending roundtable events in person or virtually, residents can also engage with City departments at the Resource Fair held one hour prior to each event. This allows for a deeper understanding of the range of services available.

The roundtables will be broadcast live on the City's social media platforms for those unable to attend in person. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available at all events, and closed captioning (CC) will be offered at Harry S. Truman College. Spanish interpretation will also be possible at Malcolm X College.

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The schedule for the Budget Engagement Roundtables is as follows:

ROUNDTABLE I

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Doors open/Resource Fair: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Malcolm X College – 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.

ROUNDTABLE II

Saturday, June 6, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Doors open/Resource Fair: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Harry S. Truman College – 1145 W. Wilson Ave.

ROUNDTABLE III

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Doors open/Resource Fair: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Kennedy-King College – 740 W 63rd St

ROUNDTABLE IV – Southwest Side, Spanish

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Doors open/Resource Fair: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Curie High School -4959 S Archer Ave

ROUNDTABLE V – Youth Engagement (Ages14-24)

Thursday, June25,2025

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Harold Washington Winter Garden – 400 S. State St.

Residents can register to attend roundtables in advance on the City's Budget Engagement Website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/obm/provd.... Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.

In conclusion, the Mayor's Office 2027 Budget Engagement Roundtable events provide an opportunity for Chicagoans to have a direct impact on the budget process and shape the future of their city. By collaborating and discussing priorities within a simulated budget framework, residents can gain a deeper understanding of fiscal decision-making and work towards building safe and affordable communities for generations to come.

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