Declaring that "planning for capital improvements must be a comprehensive and forward-looking process," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that city agencies will recommend projects on which they would like to see aldermen spend their yearly infrastructure allowances. The status quo is that each of the city's 50 aldermen can spend $1.32 million a year on projects of their choice, such as new street lighting and, of course, pothole repairs.
With the latest announcement, the city will now share with aldermen a list of projects from city agencies, like the Department of Water Management and Chicago Department of Transportation, that officials at City Hall have prioritized.
Aldermen will not be compelled to follow the city's recommendations. However, they must submit 80 percent of their infrastructure funds by June 30 each year. And, unlike before, unspent infrastructure money won't carry over into the next year.
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I agree that the capital planning process should be comprehensive. However, planning should be done from the bottom up, rather than top-down as the Mayor proposes. The aldermen are on the ground, and have a better feel for the needs of their communities. The Mayor doesn't spend time on the ground talking to rank and file citizens in settings where he has open dialogue about the needs of the communities. Ideally, the capital planning process should start in the communities, and the community process would inform the City's capital budget.
I like the participatory budgeting process that Alderman Joe Moore uses to prioritize capital spending. He works with a citizen committee to divide the menu budget among several quality of life sectors and has rank and file citizens to prioritize projects. I think this system should be replicated throughout the City.
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