Chicago spent $80,000 renovating the first lady’s office — as the city grapples with a $1 billion budget deficit

The city of Chicago faces a massive budget deficit of nearly $1 billion by 2025.

To limit the shortage, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters: “Everything is on the table,” including the possible layoff of city workers — although he hopes to avoid that.

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However, invoices and receipts — collected through multiple Freedom of Information Act requests by NBC 5 Investigates — raise questions about how the city has spent money in recent months.

For example, records show the city spent more than $80,000 renovating and refurnishing an office for Chicago First Lady Stacie Johnson.

The electricians, carpenters and painters the city employed on this project accumulated more than 350 hours of labor valued at over $25,000.

This has raised eyebrows among many who question the need for such extensive renovations at a time of financial crisis in the Windy City.

The mayor’s answer

In addition to labor costs, receipts obtained by NBC 5 Investigates showed various purchases of high-end furniture. For example, the city was billed $2,200 for a high-back executive chair and $4,400 for a desk that was listed on the invoice as “First Lady’s Desk.”

The records also show the city spent more than $43,000 on office furniture alone.

Work on Room 306 at the Chicago Cultural Center reportedly began in February and continued until August of this year.

When asked to explain, Mayor Johnson told reporters: “The Cultural Center has always been a place for dignitaries; every first lady had offices there. Renovations for my office or any office are standard procedure.”

When pressed again by reporters about the optics of such spending at a time of financial crisis, Mayor Johnson explained that purchasing an office desk “will not change the financial structural damage that has long existed.”

A spokeswoman for former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who served from 2019 to 2023, told reporters that she did not undertake any major renovations during her term.

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How budget deficits could affect Chicago

It hasn’t even been two years since Mayor Johnson took office, but according to a poll from the Illinois Policy Institute, his approval rating has plummeted to just 27.1%.

Of those surveyed, more than 62% have an “unfavorable” opinion of Mayor Johnson.

However, the city of Chicago has a long history of budget deficits. In 2023, the city projected a deficit of $538 million, nearly half the projected 2025 deficit.

But in light of the current crisis, Mayor Johnson hasn’t ruled out property tax increases, which is a major concern of the civic group, which is calling on the mayor not to “add more burdens” to homeowners.

Additionally, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) faces deficits of more than $500 million.

All seven members of the CPS board resigned in early October after Mayor Johnson pressured them to take out a high-interest loan to cover budget deficits.

Chicago’s transportation system also faces significant challenges. Officials warn that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which provides public transportation to Chicago and surrounding suburbs, is facing a “fiscal cliff” that could force service cuts or a possible fare increase.

The city has already imposed a hiring freeze and “strict restrictions” on non-essential travel in response to the budget shortfalls.

Johnson hasn’t yet elaborated on how he plans to close the gap, saying property tax increases, slot machines at city airports and legalized video gambling are some ways to raise revenue.

Regarding the $80,000 spent on his wife’s office, Johnson told NBC 5 Investigates: “If I allowed my leadership to be based on other people’s opinions of me, that would be a dereliction of duty. “I never ask mine Position to invest in people. I don’t do this for the optics; I do this to change lives.”

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This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice. The provision is made without any guarantee.