Finance & Budget Committee: No endorsement on city manager’s budget with staffing issue still unclear

City Manager Luke Stowe: “It brings me no joy to reduce a pay raise. But I think just given the financial headwinds that we’re facing, I feel like it’s an appropriate decision for this year.” Credit: Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Finance Budget Committee Wednesday withheld endorsing City Manager Luke Stowe’s proposed 2027 budget, waiting for the city manager’s decision on whether to add further staff cuts. The committee, comprising council members as well as residents with financial expertise, voted down approval of the city manager’s budget as it stands now, and will resume discussion Monday with more information about staffing. Stowe said he expects to have a recommendation on staffing by Monday’s council meeting. Some council members have been pushing for additional cuts to Stowe s initial budget recommendation to trim six full-time positions from the city and 1.15 full-time equivalent positions from the Evanston Public Library. Chart shows changes in budgets