Hire an Inspector General Now

It's oversight that's needed for Chicago's massive new spending programs

Way back in 1987 I ran for alderman in Chicago promising, among other things, to work to create on Office of Inspector General. Two years later, with leadership from the Daley Administration, we got it done. Since then, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has grown into an important oversight operation that has saved taxpayers millions and helped improve the quality of local government. The office now sits vacant. Seven months after the last Inspector General gave notice, Mayor Lightfoot has yet to fill this important position. She must do so now.

The risks of leaving the post vacant are extraordinary. This year, City Hall will spend nearly $2 billion in federal funds as part of its $16.7 billion budget.  It is more money than the city has ever spent— a full 30 percent increase over the previous year. With extra spending comes additional need for oversight. But this budget is not just larger, it also includes many complex new programs. These will require novel administrative expertise to be developed in a short time, increasing risks both financial and programmatic.

According to the budget documents developed by the city, in addition to more funding to connect everyone to broadband, more money for marketing the city, and an important guaranteed minimum income experiment, the 2022 budget includes sizable appropriations for new initiatives:

• $86m             mental health

• $150m           workforce development

• $635m           homelessness prevention

• $202m           assistance for the currently homeless

• $135m           violence prevention programs not operated by the police

• $35m             support for victims of gender-based violence

• $157m           new support for low-income Chicagoans

• $460m           small business and commercial corridor development

• $166m           community development initiatives

• $87m            small h and workforce support

• $26m            to support individual artists and cultural organizations

Performance indicators need to be drawn up. New policies and procedures need to be written. Where these mean changes to work, the city’s unions need to be consulted. Staff needs to be trained. For many of the programs public outreach and education efforts will be required. Some of the new programs will be delivered by community-based organizations, necessitating a public bidding process to contract for the work. All this needs to be transparent and fair.

Auditing to ensure that the policies are in place and the procedures followed is an essential tool of good governance. The Inspector General provides the public with independent assurance this is done properly and, importantly, provides the Mayor with early warning when it is not. In addition, the Inspector General has the investigatory powers to uncover fraud. Like every long-time observer of local government, I know that with so much money at stake, and so much that is new, additional vigilance is prudent.

To be sure, passing this budget was a real achievement.  Programs like these need strong public support. Chicagoans have been on board. But beleaguered taxpayers will be unforgiving if this unprecedented amount of money is not spent carefully. Filling the long vacant Inspector General position now will go a long way towards mitigating that risk.