Waukegan City Council Tables $281.7 Million Budget Vote, Putting $60 Million in Projects and Student Summer Jobs on Hold
Waukegan's City Council voted 6-3 to delay approval of a $281.7 million budget that would mark the city's first surplus in 33 years, putting $60 million in capital projects and student summer jobs on hold.
The Vote That Put Waukegan's First Surplus Budget in Limbo
The Waukegan City Council voted 6-3 Monday to delay approval of the city's first budget to show a surplus in at least 33 years, putting $60 million in capital improvements and summer jobs for local students on hold.
The council tabled the $281.7 million spending plan and a companion salary ordinance at a meeting at City Hall, demanding more time to review the numbers before committing.
"With us tabling the salary ordinance, I think we ought to table this also because we can't do this without the other," said Ald. Guzman, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Who Voted What
The postponement was driven by six aldermen who wanted a closer look at the budget before final approval.
In favor of tabling:
- Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward
- Ald. Guzman
- Ald. Turner
- Ald. Victor Feliz, 4th Ward
- Ald. Michael Donnenwirth, 7th Ward
- Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward
Against tabling:
- Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton, 1st Ward
- Ald. Juan Martinez, 3rd Ward
- Ald. Edith Newsome, 5th Ward
Ald. Sims Bolton was the only alderman on both sides of the aisle who opposed the delay. She is currently facing felony charges related to allegedly casting a ballot in her deceased mother's name.
What's at Stake
The two-week delay carries real consequences for Waukegan residents.
- $60 million in capital improvement projects could face delays
- High school and college students enrolled in city summer jobs programs could lose two weeks of pay
The council first reviewed the budget in mid-May. Ald. Hayes argued that more time would allow for a more reasoned decision on the spending plan.
When It Comes Back
The council is scheduled to reconsider both the salary ordinance and the budget at a 7 p.m. meeting, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The postponed vote comes as Waukegan navigates a period of significant transition. The city recently saw the groundbreaking for the $302 million permanent American Place Casino, a project expected to create 700 jobs and open in 2028.
Ald. Hayes said the delay was about careful stewardship of taxpayer money, not opposition to the budget itself.
The city's first surplus budget in over three decades was meant to signal fiscal recovery. Instead, it has become a flash point for council members who say they need more time to understand how the money will be spent.