2nd Ward Meeting 9/22/2026

The City of Evanston’s 2nd Ward meeting on September 22, 2026, included a presentation on development of the proposed 2027 budget. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Clayton Black described structural deficits, declining general-fund reserves, rising personnel and health-insurance costs, pension obligations, and major facility needs. The city estimated it could end 2026 with a general-fund balance of roughly $33–36 million, compared with a required reserve of about $16.6 million; annual pension contributions are approximately $30 million. Staff said the budget process is ongoing, with further ward meetings expected. The discussion also covered a plan to end the Dempster-Dodge TIF district earlier than its scheduled expiration, while other TIF districts remain under review; recommendations are expected to go to City Council.

The ward meeting did not take a procurement vote, but the alderperson recapped actions from the previous City Council meeting, including approval of a grant application for the Emerson Street bike and pedestrian underbridge crossing project; a Chicago Avenue corridor improvement change order with Epstein and Sun International; a purchase of a Toro Groundsmaster for the Greenways Division; and the third year of a three-year Google Workspace Enterprise contract. Other reported actions included a three-year preventive-maintenance agreement for uninterruptible power supplies serving the police department and Sherman Plaza, event portable-toilet purchases, and replacement fleet-shop hose lines. Residents also raised concerns about a proposed data center, downtown development, and city finances; no decision on the data center was reported.