Events

The IOP hosts Chicago Treks in partnership with the Harris School's Center for Effective Government. Each trek offers 20 students the chance to dive into a political issue area through meeting with a broad range of public service practitioners.

On this Trek participants will explore: What is the process of creating a municipal budget in Chicago? Historically has it been an inclusive and efficient process? Who are the main stakeholders when creating a municipal budget? The Mayor? The Office of Budget and Management? City Council? Is the annual budget a moral document? What type of values get inserted into the budget? Technically, how do you estimate revenue? How do you reduce deficits and shortfalls? How do debt and pension considerations affect the budget’s outlook?

Speakers for this Trek include: Annette Guzman '06, City of Chicago Budget Director, Chicago Office of Budget and Management Staff, Thea Crum, Director of Neighborhood Initiatives at the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute, and Adam Slade, Visiting Research Specialist at the Great Cities Institute. Additional speakers may be added.