3:15 p.m.
Looks like the big conflict on this year's budget will center on police and fire spending, which some alderman pegged at 70 percent or more of the city's total outlay.
Msall faced lengthy and aggressive questioning from Ed Burke, whose face turned so red that he looked like he might eventually require the assistance of the firefighters whose budget he was defending.
"Do we have too many district commanders," he asked. "Do we have too many district fire chiefs? Which one should we cut?"
Burke's comments seemed to focus more on questioning the messenger than on dealing with Msall's message, which was straightforward: If the city spends more than it makes, it's going to be in deep kimchee.
Rocket science it ain't.
Other aldermen seemed willing to look into ways to curb police and fire spending, while Freddrenna Lyle noted that residents who see fewer police cars on their block might get angry enough to sink their alderman.
Left unaddressed were two possibilities:
I'll leave it to you to choose which one of those is preferable.
Meanwhile, I'll be digging into some of the administrative spending at the police and fire departments over the next few days and will hopefully be able to post some details on how those budgets look in comparison to other big cities.
If anyone has any facts, figures or theories handy, fire away. That's all for today's proceedings.
12:54
Wrapping up the live blog to save laptop power. Will update as warranted after the hearing.
12:51
Seat check: about 50% of the alderman have ducked out and are missing the budget discussion. Alderman Levar just sent his assistant out for a bag of chips, so he'll be able to stick with it for the long hall.
12:47
More Msall: "Rating agencies have already started to express concern about the fiscal state of this government. There are enormous challenges for this government going forward. You shouldn't be starting new programs and drawing down the reserves."
Concern from the rating agencies is a huge deal -- it can ultimately mean the city pays higher interest rates on the money it borrows. And, of course, Msall is already worried about the amount the city's paying on debt service.
12:39 p.m.
"We cannot support this budget because it relies too heavily on one-time funding sources," said Lawrence Msall, director of the Civic Federation.
He says the city needs a formal policy on how the city draws from its reserve funds, and that police and fire budgets need to be cut.
"We realize it means further pain and further cuts for City of Chicago. But we belive it's the only fiscally responsible action city can take. This government cannot continue to spend more than it takes in."
The budget is balanced using a third of the revenue from the city's 75-year parking meter lease, Msall said.
Obviously, this tactic will only work for a few years.
12:33 p.m.:
Budget confusion resolved. The public hearing's starting now.
12:24 p.m.:
Confusion over the status of the 2010 budget.
Burke: So we passed it already?
12:20 p.m.:
... And back to the chaff. Now reading into the record an extensive resolution praising the crew of the U.S.S. Mason, a WWII ship. The movie version of their story hit the screens in 2004. Five years later, the Chicago City Council wants the postal service to issue a commemorative stamp.
My personal advice to the postal service: If you can deliver my mail within +/- 15 days of when it's supposed to arrive, I'm not going to worry much about the stamps.
12:04 p.m.:
The Chicago Police Department will be the subject of a 20-episode A & E documentary on its missing persons unit.
The project will be produced by Chicago-based Found Films. The company will donate $5,000 per episode to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.
Alderman Isaac Carothers said the missing persons unit is known as one of the world's best. He joked that the city's contract with the producers could have some unexpected benefits for Mayor Richard M. Daley.
"You never know... you may end up walking down the red carpet," Carothers said.
11:50 a.m.:
On to the serious business. Aldermen approved the appointment of Joseph Ferguson as the city's inspector general. He replaces David Hoffman, who resigned to run for U.S. Senate.
Also approved: the city's $16 million settlement with the village of Bensenville over the O'Hare expansion controversy.
11:12 a.m.:
It's a veritable tidal wave of support for the Billy Goat, with at least 10 aldermen speaking in favor.
Ed Burke wants a Billy Goat on the Southwest Side, and enjoyed "partying" with the 'Goat crew in D.C. during the inauguration.
Mary Ann Smith: "Thank you very much for feeding me when I was a poor starving Encyclopedia Brittanica worker, and for being such a great place and so affordable."
Resolution approved, and thus the republic is safe!
11:05 a.m.:
Meeting scheduled to start at 10. City faces precarious budget situation and is reeling from the death of Board of Ed president Michael Scott.
Here's the action, to the extent we can call it that, so far: