Under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act, there is a presumption that government records are open to the public. Body cam footage is an anomaly. Its availability is dictated by the […] ...

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability recommends candidates for Chicago Police Department and Police Board leadership, drafts and has power to approve CPD policies, and reviews ...

The Board of Election Commissioners is established under state elections law and technically is part of the judicial branch, but receives operational funding from the City of Chicago. BoEC oversees ...

The Department of Human Resources remained at relatively steady budget and staffing levels from 2011 through 2022, when a Lightfoot-era push to ramp up staffing nearly doubled the department’s ...

The Office of Public Safety Administration was created in Lori Lightfoot’s first budget, and launched as a full and independently functioning department by 2021. The 2020 OPSA budget was something of ...

*Historical rates of change are from 2021 onwards, when the existing division of responsibilities between OEMC, the new OPSA, and the existing police and fire departments was fully implemented. OEMC ...

The city clerk is one of three elected city-wide officials, along with the mayor and the treasurer. The clerk’s office maintains city records, including legislation and other city council documents, ...

The city treasurer is one of three elected city-wide officials, along with the mayor and the clerk. The treasurer manages the city’s bank accounts and pension and investment funds. The City ...

The Department of Law’s budget has historically grown at roughly the same rate as non-grant appropriations, and therefore slightly slower than the citywide rates, which were driven up by COVID-19 ...

The Department of Administrative Hearings is a quasi-judicial body authorized to administer hearings on ordinance violations that do not include a penalty of imprisonment. Administrative hearings ...

The License Appeal Commission is a standalone adjudicatory body for hearings relating to business liquor licenses. It is the city’s smallest department by headcount and budget, with a single staff ...

The Board of Ethics administers Chicago’s Governmental Ethics and Campaign Financing Ordinances. It is one of the city’s smallest departments, with a small staff assisting an appointed board. Overall ...