Final update:
Here's a post on Daley's reaction to the budget debate.
And, for those who don't want to relive the agony of the proceedings, a summary post.
1:55 p.m.
Budget passes 38-12.
1:15 p.m.
Alderman Virginia Rugai seems to have a handle on the council's budget zeitgeist: "No one loves it. We're all very frustrated."
And still voting yes.
Meanwhile, Sharon Dixon mentioned that she has five TIFs in her ward, but they don't seem to make a difference.
"The folks I represent are constantly left out of the entitlement benefits we're talking about. I don't have enough garbage trucks."
Ted Richard Mell suggested that the budget would look better if the federal government reined in unfunded mandates.
And, he said, "I still think a casino makes sense." He's voting in favor of the budget.
12:25 p.m.
Stone's been stressing to his colleagues that they cannot believe everything they read in the newspaper.
He doesn't mention anything about online news outlets. Are we more trustworthy? Or does he not know about the Internet?
12:19 p.m.
Bernie Stone says the media has brain-washed Allen into hating TIFs.
So, let's hear it, folks out there: If you could brainwash your alder-unit, what would you make them do? Comment below.
I'm pretty sure I'd skip the TIFs and have my alderman turn all my overdue parking tickets into $100 bills.
12:12 p.m.
Aldermen seem torn over the compromises in the budget, recognizing that deep cuts would be painful and necessary to match up spending with revenue. But they're also not crazy about drawing down the parking meter lease reserve.
"We do have a structural problem, and at the moment we don't have the answer to it," said Helen Shiller.
She says the budget avoids cutting services taxpayers depend on, and so is voting for it.
On the other hand, Bob Fioretti says he's voting against. He'd approve a budget that draws less from reserve funds, and has a specific commitment for replenishing them later.
But he says spending some of those funds now isn't a bad deal, because interest rates are so low that the city isn't making any money holding them as investments.
11:49 a.m.
Alderman Thomas Allen says he's voting against the budget, largely over concern over how the city is dealing with tax increment financing districts and the controversial parking-meter lease.
"We have breached our fiduciary duty to the taxpayer," he said.
He also complained that the city is balancing the budget using reserve funds, and doesn't seem to have a plan for bringing spending in line with revenues.
"We have a structural problem," he said. "What are we going to do next year?"
Allen suggested cutting back on expenditures at ward offices and delaying big-ticket projects.
"Believe me, the taxpayers are listening," he said. "You can't tell them sotries. They're not stupid."
11:25 a.m.
Moore's motion is tabled after Austin says it's nearly identical to one the Budget Committee declined to pass.
There's widespread confusion during the roll call over whether aldermen are voting on Moore's amendment, or Austin's motion to table Moore's plan.
An unknown alderman asks: "Can we have a do-over?"
The vote to table is 30-13.
11:20 a.m.
Alderman Carrie Austin kicks off the debate by saying the proposed budget uses reserve funds in a "prudent and responsible manner."
The Civic Federation's Lawrence Msall would presumably disagree.
Maryann Smith sums up the feelings of many in the house: "I hate voting on budgets."
Joe Moore now has the floor and is pitching an amendent that would restore funding for mental health services.
This should be interesting.
11:06 a.m.
Done with the monkey business, on to the budget.
11:00 a.m.
Now considering a resolution lauding firefighters for their response to a West Side car crash.
Alderman Emma Mitts emphasized that she had provided the responding station with free food on Thanksgiving Day.
Unsure whether the free turkey allowed them to better aid the folks injured in the accident. I'll check into it.
10:29 a.m.
Not much business getting done. Aldermen are honoring Francheska Velez, the solider killed in the Fort Hood massacre last month.
More than 10 council members have offered tributes -- some moving, some trite. All are taking a strong stand against death and murder.
I've never lost a child, so perhaps I'm in the dark here. But it's difficult to imagine how the condolences from the 49th Ward alderman are going to help Velez's family in any way.
10:14 a.m.
Aldermen are voting this morning on a $6.1 billion spending plan that relies heavily on revenue from the controversial parking-meter lease.
I'm at City Hall and will be live blogging the vote, so stay tuned.