Mayor Brandon Johnson will likely be busy filling three key positions in his administration because the calendar turns to the brand new yr.
Its controller, coverage director and the pinnacle of town’s Department of Family and Support Services are all headed for the exit.
Comptroller Chasse Rehwinkel, who runs the workplace accountable for issues like payroll, fines, charges and employees’ compensation, introduced Friday that he’s leaving city to change into the chief monetary officer of the family-owned Devon Bank.
Rehwinkel beforehand served as coverage director for the state treasurer, chief economist for the state comptroller and banking director for Gov. J.B. Pritzker. While it was supposed to assist Johnson enact his plan to hunt further state funding from lawmakers, Rehwinkel stated the provide was too good to move up.
“It’s been a difficult season financially,” he admitted, however “if this particular alternative hadn’t offered itself, I’d totally anticipate to be right here. I had the concept to be there and help with Springfield associated issues and there’s nonetheless quite a bit I wish to do right here…typically you possibly can’t choose the timing.
The financial institution has no present enterprise with town, he stated.
Since the mayor took workplace, Rehwinkel has been the third cease on his finance workforce together with Finance Director Jill Jaworski and Budget Director Annette Guzman. The three had been tasked with serving to Johnson’s finances overcome the aldermanic problem, crunching the numbers for varied proposed taxes and charges, cuts and monetary maneuvers to shut subsequent yr’s $1 billion finances hole.
Ultimately, aldermen rejected Johnson’s proposal for a property tax enhance, passing a finances with fewer long-term structural options to fill the hole than the one initially launched.
Rehwinkel advised the Tribune he hopes his successor will proceed to handle methods to make paying metropolis payments simpler, settle for calls for for a public financial institution and prosecute bad-faith scofflaws who flout metropolis guidelines for revenue. His workplace is adopting new “three strikes” guidelines to forestall individuals from indefinitely extending metropolis debt cost plans. His successor can even must proceed work to untangle a payroll drawback that has infuriated employees and affected the wages of different retailers within the metropolis.
Also out: Policymaker Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby, who helped spearhead “Bring Chicago Home” plans and moved ever nearer to making a city-owned grocery retailer and overhauling psychological well being providers of town.
Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze, who led town’s shelter response in the course of the migrant disaster, can be leaving Dec. 31 for a nonprofit job. He started main the division underneath the Lightfoot administration in 2021. The division additionally handles programming for youngsters and youth, seniors and survivors of home violence.
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