Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Hosts Inaugural Lakeside Chat on 2025 Budget
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CHICAGO – The City of Chicago is pleased to announce that yesterday the City hosted an inaugural Lakeside Chat featuring Mayor Brandon Johnson and Budget Director Annette Guzman. This event provided residents with an in-depth look at the 2025 Budget and reflect on the City's commitment to transparency and community engagement within its budget process.

"From day one, we have been committed to ensuring that community voices are heard and reflected at every level of my administration—including on the 5th floor. Through this engagement process, we are proud to deliver a budget that truly represents the priorities and needs of Chicagoans," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "This is an opportunity for Chicagoans to hear directly from City leadership about our fiscal plans and how the budget reflects the community's feedback."

The Lakeside Chat took place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Harold Washington Library's Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. With limited in-person attendance of 300 and a live-streaming option, the event ensured broad accessibility for all residents. Attendees were encouraged to submit questions during registration, fostering a collaborative dialogue between the City's administration and its residents.

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"I'm excited to share highlights from the 2025 budget and how we are working to strengthen neighborhoods, continue delivering key City services, and create meaningful opportunities for all Chicagoans," said Budget Director Annette Guzman. "This inaugural event marks an important shift back to engaging directly with residents and emphasizing the critical role of our budget engagement process in shaping a brighter future for Chicago."

2025 Budget Community Priorities following Budget Engagement:

Priority Area	Investment	Impact/Scope
Homeless Services – City Shelter Network	$40M	Addition of 3,800 beds
Homeless Services – Rapid Rehousing Program	$28.8M	1,000 households
Broadband Access Expansion	$23M	Expanding access to currently underserved communities
Affordable Housing Initiatives	$115-135M Multi-year investment	Increase affordable rental options and opportunities for affordable homeownership
Violence Prevention Program	$100M+	23-program expansion
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Public Health Investments	$13.2M	Expanding family, maternal, and mental health services
Youth Employment and Workforce Development	$50M	29,000 Jobs
Neighborhood Revitalization	$84M	Increasing investment in historically disinvested neighborhoods and commercial corridors
Cultural Grant Programs	$9.6M	Increase programs that fund organizations and individual artists

To review the FY2025 Annual Appropriation Ordinance visit our website here.

View FY2025 Budget Investments Deck here.

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