Chicago community leaders call to redistribute budget amid deficit

Chicago - The deadline to close Chicago's nearly one billion dollar budget gap is approaching and public health advocates believe they have a solution – reallocate vacancy funds from the Chicago Police Department budget.

This year's budget allocated $170 million over 1,100 vacancies. Community leaders are calling for those funds to be redirected to fill gaps in the public health programming, youth job initiatives and the city's guaranteed-income pilot program. The mayor's office says cutting the income program would save the city 30 million dollars alone.

Aldermen will begin committee meetings to lay the groundwork for a budget vote as early as Dec. 13. Johnson's latest budget proposal includes a 68.5 million dollar property tax hike. 

The Chicago City Council has until the end of the year to approve a budget for 2025.