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Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman Resigns Abruptly Amidst Financial Team Turnover

Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman has resigned from her position at City Hall, marking the second major departure from Mayor Brandon Johnson's financial team in a single week. Her resignation follows the sudden exit of Acting Chief Financial Officer Steven Mahr and his top deputy, Noor Shaikh, which has sparked concerns regarding the city's leadership during a critical budget season. Annette Guzman served in senior financial roles for a decade at City Hall and previously held positions at Cook County. She is leaving to focus on her family, according to the mayor's office. Her departure comes at a sensitive time as Chicago faces a $90 million mid-year budget shortfall and a projected $1 billion gap for the next year. Alderman Matt O’Shea noted that Guzman was a key figure in defending the mayor's budget, though some colleagues suggested internal friction within the finance team contributed to the user's turnover. Jonathan Ernst will serve as the acting budget director moving forward.

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