Better Government Association
@bettergov.bsky.social
📤 153
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đź“ť 18
Advocating for transparent, accountable and efficient government through public policy.
Moderator
@gracehauck.bsky.social
will guide Illinois Answers' conversation on how investigative journalism builds more accountable systems. Join her on Dec. 2! Learn more here:
https://www.bettergov.org/event/16768/
4 days ago
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Be a part of this crucial dialogue with change makers redefining local journalism and its impact on Chicago’s future. Light bites and drinks will be served.
https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=453d13e6-2155-45b2-b7c9-2222cb47ad43&envId=p-fEp6e6mKFk2iQ5k7ZFAgFg&zone=usa
5 days ago
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The City of Chicago budget hearings are almost over! You can catch up on all of our budget snapshots, full analyses including charts and tables, here:
www.bettergov.org/tag/budget-h...
12 days ago
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From our VP of Policy Bryan Zarou: Has the clerk of Cook County Circuit Court improved transparency as she promised?
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/23/o...
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Bryan Zarou: Has the clerk of Cook County Circuit Court improved transparency as she promised?
Mariyana Spyropoulos took office in December and began to do what she promised to do: improving trust and transparency.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/23/opinion-cook-county-circuit-court-clerk-transparency/
about 1 month ago
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BGA Policy is in City Council chambers as the start of the first budget departmental hearings are underway. Keep track of all our budget snapshots here:
www.bettergov.org/tag/budget-h...
about 1 month ago
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It’s budget season in Chicago, and that means it’s time for BGA Policy’s popular Budget Snapshots: your go-to, day-by-day guide to each department’s proposed budget. Learn more and sign up here:
www.bettergov.org/city-of-chic...
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City of Chicago 2026 Budget Snapshots
Get the details of each department's proposed budget with BGA Budget Snapshot: day-by-day analyses of departmental budgets, released ahead of each department's City Council hearing, with a focus on ma...
https://www.bettergov.org/city-of-chicago-2026-budget-snapshots/
about 1 month ago
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NEW: Chicago Police Only City Department to Overspend Local Funds Three Years Running
www.bettergov.org/2025/10/15/c...
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Budget vs. Actual Spend: Chicago Police Only City Department to Overspend Local Funds Three Years Running
Explore the Chicago police budget and learn how the department consistently overspends its budget from 2022 to 2024.
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/10/15/cpd-budget-actual-spend-2022-2024/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Better Government Association
Geoffrey Cubbage
about 2 months ago
🧵 A deep dive into guaranteed funding floors for three Chicago oversight agencies -- Office of Inspector General, Civilian Office of Police Accountability, and Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability -- found actual departmental budgets well short of the minimums.
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Analysis: Departmental Budgets Fall Short of Mandatory Minimums for City Oversight Agencies
Non-departmental calculated costs and accounting adjustments make up difference, BGA Policy analysis finds
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/10/06/analysis-departmental-budgets-fall-short-of-mandatory-minimums-for-city-oversight-agencies/
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New from BGA Policy: Departmental Budgets Fall Short of Mandatory Minimums for City Oversight Agencies
www.bettergov.org/2025/10/06/a...
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Analysis: Departmental Budgets Fall Short of Mandatory Minimums for City Oversight Agencies
Non-departmental calculated costs and accounting adjustments make up difference, BGA Policy analysis finds
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/10/06/analysis-departmental-budgets-fall-short-of-mandatory-minimums-for-city-oversight-agencies/
about 2 months ago
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New: BGA Calls on Illinois Attorney General to Investigate Apparent Violations of the TRUST Act Read the full statement here:
www.bettergov.org/2025/10/01/b...
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BGA Calls on Illinois Attorney General to Investigate Apparent Violations of the TRUST Act
As a nonpartisan organization dedicated to accountability, transparency and equity within government, the BGA is concerned about recent reporting indicating the Illinois TRUST Act likely is being viol...
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/10/01/bga-calls-on-illinois-attorney-general-to-investigate-apparent-violations-of-the-trust-act/
about 2 months ago
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The Better Government Association commends the Board’s intent to evaluate the efficiency and equality of mosquito-related services in Cook County, and commends the board for passing this resolution.
www.bettergov.org/2025/09/25/b...
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BGA Supports Cook County Mosquito Abatement Evaluation
Last week, the Better Government Association spoke in front of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and supported a resolution that calls for evaluation of countywide mosquito abatement practices an...
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/09/25/bga-supports-cook-county-mosquito-abatement-evaluation/
about 2 months ago
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Geoffrey Cubbage's BGA Policy analysis on Chicago's outsized PR spending is cited in "Copaganda," by Alec Karakatsanis, highlighting how police communications shape public perception. Read his 2022 analysis here:
www.bettergov.org/2022/10/18/a...
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Analysis: Chicago Outspends and Outstaffs NYC, LA on Communications and Public Relations
Emanuel-era surge in CPD public relations staff, maintained in Lightfoot’s budgets, puts Chicago ahead of peer cities in comms spending per capita and as a proportion of overall budget
https://www.bettergov.org/2022/10/18/analysis-chicago-outspends-and-outstaffs-nyc-la-on-communications-and-public-relations/
3 months ago
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We’re proud to share that SB1181, Illinois’ anti-SLAPP legislation, has officially passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is now headed to the governor’s desk. This is a major win for free speech and government transparency in Illinois.
6 months ago
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At a press conference last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled new lobbying priorities focused on tweaks to state revenue for Chicago—but left out potential new revenue proposals raised during the city’s late 2024 budget hearings.
www.bettergov.org/2025/04/10/n...
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New Revenues for Chicago, Mentioned in Budget Hearings, Not On Mayor’s Springfield Agenda
A series of new lobbying priorities announced by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at a press conference last week included tweaks to revenues the city currently receives from the state government, […]
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/04/10/new-revenues-for-chicago-mentioned-in-budget-hearings-not-on-mayors-springfield-agenda/
8 months ago
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BGA supports consolidating Cook County's electronic monitoring programs, but moving them under the judiciary limits transparency since courts are not subject to FOIA. As electronic monitoring expands under judges, we need judicial FOIA now to ensure accountability.
bit.ly/3FKe0eM
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Contentious overhaul of electronic-monitoring program in Cook County arriving after brewing for years
After months of planning and discussion, the Cook County sheriff’s office starting Tuesday will no longer accept new electronic monitoring participants, marking the beginning of a shift in one way …
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/30/contentious-overhaul-of-electronic-monitoring-program-in-cook-county-arriving-after-brewing-for-years/?lctg=A4A205AA14E1E54274BF2545B2&utm_email=A4A205AA14E1E54274BF2545B2&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2f2025%2f03%2f30%2fcontentious-overhaul-of-electronic-monitoring-program-in-cook-county-arriving-after-brewing-for-years%2f&utm_campaign=CT-Breaking-News&utm_content=alert
8 months ago
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Illinois’ judicial branch is exempt from FOIA, keeping key info hidden. Even when required, compliance is slow. As electronic monitoring expands, the public still waits for mandated data. Read the analysis here:
www.bettergov.org/2025/03/26/s...
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State Courts Lag on Electronic Monitoring Data Required by SAFE-T Act
As BGA Policy has consistently highlighted, Illinois’ judicial branch is not subject to FOIA, leaving entities like juvenile detention centers, policies and procedures of judicial agencies, training m...
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/03/26/state-courts-lag-on-electronic-monitoring-data-required-by-safe-t-act/
8 months ago
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NEW: Alleging Obstruction, Chicago’s Inspector General Turns to City Council for Stronger Laws
www.bettergov.org/2025/02/13/a...
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Alleging Obstruction, Chicago’s Inspector General Turns to City Council for Stronger Laws
In a memo sent Friday to the Chicago City Council’s ethics committee, city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg laid out a series of what her office characterizes as obstructions by the […]
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/02/13/alleging-obstruction-chicagos-inspector-general-turns-to-city-council-for-stronger-laws/?utm_source=Better+Government+Association&utm_campaign=1df770aa69-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_12_12_2022_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eded421217-1df770aa69-635934421
9 months ago
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BREAKING: Former longtime Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan today was found guilty by a jury on 10 out of 23 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and other charges in relation to a jobs-for-votes scheme and additional abuses of public office.
www.bettergov.org/2025/02/12/b...
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Better Government Association Statement: Madigan Trial Verdict
Former longtime Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan today was found guilty by a jury on 10 out of 23 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and other charges in relation to a jobs-for-votes ...
https://www.bettergov.org/2025/02/12/better-government-association-statement-madigan-trial-verdict/
9 months ago
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Mayor Brandon Johnson's office improperly accepted personal gifts 'on behalf of the city' and then denied investigators access to the records, according to the Office of Inspector General.
igchicago.org/2025/01/29/m...
10 months ago
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