Brandon Johnson, Chicago Mayor | City of Chicago Facebook
Brandon Johnson, Chicago Mayor | City of Chicago Facebook
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told taxpayers Monday he is ordering a freeze on hiring, as the city faces a $1 billion budget deficit.
One day later, the city posted advertisements for new jobs for which it is actively hiring.
Among them: "Administrative Assistant III," a title that would pay $58,956, "Administrative Services Officer I," which pays $64,668 and "Program Director" for the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, Visual Arts Division.
That position pays $118,128.
The "Visual Arts Division" exhibition program "encompasses historic as well as contemporary art worldwide, with special emphasis placed on emerging and underrepresented artists who live and work in Chicago," according to its web site.
"We are proud to serve a uniquely diverse public that may not otherwise encounter the kind of high-quality, experimental, community-oriented, and welcoming exhibitions," it says.
A statement from the city of Chicago's Budget Director Annette Guzman on September 9 said the city is projecting a $982.4 million deficit for FY2025. The deficit is largely driven by "rising personnel, pension, and contractual costs, alongside ongoing revenue challenges," according to the statement.
"The City’s leadership team, including the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) and the Department of Finance, are working diligently to navigate these financial challenges and ensure the continued delivery of essential services to our residents," Guzman said.
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