Consultants hired by Mayor Brandon Johnson to find ways to save Chicago taxpayers money found themselves caught in the budget crossfire Monday between him and City Council critics who say his 2026 spending plan doesn’t include enough of their recommendations.

Ernst & Young officials who authored a report that included dozens of recommendations on spending changes appeared before the council Budget Committee. Some aldermen frustrated by Johnson’s budget proposal took the hearing as a platform to publicly push for steeper cuts.

“This is a $3 million report that we’ve been saying for free for years,” said Ald. Anthony Beale, a top Johnson critic. “We’ve been saying we need cuts and efficiencies, cuts and efficiencies. We’ve been saying that for years, and you guys have totally ignored t

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