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Annette Guzman resigns as Chicago Budget Director as Mayor Brandon Johnson faces budget shortfall

Annette Guzman has resigned from her position as Chicago Budget Director, leaving Mayor Brandon Johnson to navigate a critical budget season and an upcoming mayoral election. Guzman, who served in senior financial roles for a decade, left to spend more time with her family. Her departure follows the recent resignation of Chief Financial Officer Steven Mahr, creating a sense of urgency for the city's financial leadership. The move comes at a time when Chicago faces a projected budget shortfall of nearly $100 million and a $16.7 billion budget battle over pension payments. Some city council members have expressed concern over the budget team's stability, with Alderman Matt O’Shea questioning thes administration's ability to retain top financial staff during such a critical juncture. While Guzman was a key figure in Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and other council members, she was noted for her aggressive defense of the mayor's budget vision. Jonathan Ernst will serve as acting budget director until a permanent replacement is a found.

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