Mayor Johnson gets a green light on budget, but kicks the fiscal can down the road on migrant spending

Ald. Anthony Beale (second from right) was one of eight ‘no” votes on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first budget, which Beale said is “unbalanced.” (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

Whether at the city, county, state or federal level, producing a balanced, fiscally sound budget is a fundamental task of government.

Leaders sometimes fall short on that task, of course, and Chicago is no stranger to budget sleight of hand and wishful thinking about revenue.