Prior Year Budgets

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Adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

On Monday, November 25, 2024 the Evanston City Council adopted the FY 2025 budget.

The original proposed budget, released on October 4, 2024, included $342,151,643 in expenses and $319,075,774 in revenues (excluding operating transfers). With approved changes, expenses were reduced to $338,705,108 and revenues to $317,315,969 (excluding operating transfers).

The City is pleased to present the FY 2025 Proposed Budget using ClearGov digital budget book software, which provides a budget book that is optimized for online viewing.

Supplemental FY 2025 Budget Documentation

Adopted Budget

Proposed Budget

2025 Budget Process Calendar

Friday, October 4: 2025 Proposed Budget available on City website
Tuesday, October 8: 2025 Proposed Budget presented at the regular Finance and Budget Committee meeting
Monday, October 14: 202 5 Proposed Budget presented at the regular City Council meeting
Monday, October 28: Budget Public Hearing at the regular City Council meeting
Tuesday, October 29: Budget Discussion at a Special Finance & Budget Committee meeting
October - November : Presentation of 2025 Proposed Budget at ward meetings
- Wednesday, October 30 - 1st/6th/7th Ward (Councilmembers Kelly, Suffredin, and Revelle)
  6:00pm-7:30pm
  Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center (2100 Ridge Ave.), Room 2402
- Wednesday, November 6 - 2nd/5th/8th Ward (Councilmembers Harris, Burns, and Reid)
  7:00pm-8:30pm
  Robert Crown Community Center (1801 Main St.), Room B/C
- Thursday, November 7 - 3rd/4th/9th Ward (Councilmembers Wynne, Nieuwsma, and Geracaris)
  5:30pm-7:00pm
  South End Community Center (430 Asbury Ave.)
Monday, November 4: Truth in Taxation Hearing at Special City Council meeting
Monday, November 11: Budget Discussion and Introduction of Tax Levy Ordinances at regular City Council meeting
Tuesday, November 12: Budget Discussion at regular Finance & Budget Committee meeting
Monday, November 25: Budget Adopted at regular City Council meeting
December: Cook County tax levy filing deadline, budget website updated with Adopted Budget
January 1, 2025: FY 2025 Fiscal Year Begins

FY 2024

Adopted Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

On Monday, December 11, the Evanston City Council adopted the FY 2024 budget in a unanimous vote. The City's 2024 fiscal year covers the period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The original proposed budget included $449,008,728 in expenses and $424,540,616 in revenues. With approved changes, expenses have been reduced to $438,416,120 and revenues to $415,125,508.

The City is pleased to present the 2024 Proposed Budget using ClearGov digital budget book software, which provides a budget book that is optimized for online viewing.

FY 2024 Adopted Budget - Full Document (PDF)
FY 2024 Adopted Budget - Online

Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

2024 Budget Process Calendar

Friday, October 6: 2024 Proposed Budget available on City website
Tuesday, October 10: 2024 Proposed Budget presented to the Finance and Budget Committee.
Monday, October 16: 2024 Budget presented at Special City Council meeting.
Monday, October 23: Budget Public Hearing at City Council meeting.
October - November: Presentation of the 2024 Proposed Budget at ward meetings and town halls.
- Tuesday, October 24: 2nd Ward (Council Member Harris)
- Thursday, October 26: Budget Town Hall (Spanish)
- Thursday, October 26: 5th/8th Ward (Council Members Burns and Reid)
- Thursday, October 26: 1st Ward (Council Member Kelly)
- Wednesday, November 1: 6th/7th Ward (Council Members Suffredin and Revelle)
- Thursday, November 2: Budget Town Hall (English)
- Tuesday, November 7: 3rd/4th/9th Ward (Council Members Wynne, Nieuwsma, and Geracaris)
Monday, November 6: Truth in Taxation Hearing at City Council
Monday, November 13: Budget Discussion and Introduction of Tax Levy Ordinances at City Council
Monday, November 27: Targeted Adoption of Budget by City Council
Monday, December 11: Budget adopted by the City Council
December 28: Tax levy filing deadline

FY 2023

Adopted Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

On December 12, the City Council adopted the FY 2023 budget with expenses totaling $397,207,050. Changes from the proposed budget included elimination of the proposed property tax increase, a reduction in the number of proposed new positions, a reduction in proposed capital project spending, the use of General Fund reserves for additional public safety pension contributions, and expanded funding for the City's Reparations Program.

The City is pleased to present the 2023 Adopted Budget using ClearGov digital budget book software, which provides a budget book that is optimized for online viewing.

2023 Amended Budget

While the City did not exceed the adopted 2023 budget in total, the City is required to adopt a budget amendment to reconcile individual funds that exceeded the adopted budget. View the 2023 Amended Budget Ordinance (43-O-24).

Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

The Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget was posted on October 10. Below are links to the proposed budget and other key information.

2023 Budget Memos

The memos below are responses to questions that have been sent in by members of the City Council and residents regarding the 2023 Proposed Budget.

2023 Budget Process Calendar

Monday, October 10: 2023 Proposed Budget available on City website
Tuesday, October 11: 2023 Proposed Budget presented to Budget and Finance Committee
Monday, October 17: Presentation of 2023 Proposed Budget at City Council
Thursday, October 20: Presentation of 2023 Proposed Budget at 1st Ward Meeting
Monday, October 24: Budget Public Hearing at City Council
Wednesday, October 26: Budget Town Hall (Spanish) - Watch video
Thursday, October 27: Presentation of 2023 Proposed Budget at 2nd Ward Meeting and 5th Ward Meeting
Tuesday, November 1: Presentation of 2023 Proposed Budget at 3rd/4th Ward Meeting and 6th/7th/9th Ward Meeting
Thursday, November 3: Budget Town Hall (English)
Monday, November 7: Truth in Taxation Public Hearing at City Council
Tuesday, November 8: Discussion at Budget and Finance Committee
Monday, November 14: Budget Discussion at City Council
Monday, November 21: Budget Discussion at City Council
Monday, November 28: Budget Discussion at City Council
Monday, December 12: Budgeted Adopted by City Council
December 28: Tax levy filing deadline
December 31: Budget approval deadline

Baker Tilly Report

Evanston, IL - Final Report

FY 2022

2022 Adopted Budget

The 2022 Budget was adopted by City Council on November 22, 2021, in the amount of $360,433,520. Summary documents for the adopted budget are available below.

2022 Adopted Budget - All Funds Summary
Adopted Tax Levy Summary (no increase from previous year)
2022 Budget Ordinance and Memo
2022 Tax Levy Ordinances and Memos - City Tax Levy, Library Tax Levy, General Assistance Tax Levy
2022 Adopted Budget - Full Document PDF

Click on the image below to view the 2022 Adopted Budget Online.

Amended Budget

While the City did not exceed the adopted 2022 budget in total, the City is required to adopt a budget amendment to reconcile individual funds that exceeded the adopted budget. View the 2022 Budget Amendment Ordinance (40-O-23).

Budget Memos

Each year, staff completes and publishes budget memos in response to questions and requests from City Council. These memos are published on a weekly basis on Fridays.

Budget Presentations

FY 2021

Fiscal Year 2021 Budget

2021 Adopted Budget

The 2021 Budget and tax levies were adopted by City Council on November 23, 2020.

2021 Budget Amendment

While the City did not exceed the adopted 2021 budget in total, the City is required to adopt a budget amendment to reconcile individual funds that exceeded the adopted budget. View the 2021 Budget Amendment Ordinance (26-O-22).

2021 Proposed Budget

Updated Proposed Budget Information - For City Council Meeting November 9, 2020
2021 Proposed Budget Summary - Published October 9, 2020
2021 Proposed Budget - Full Document - Published October 9, 2020
Feedback from 2021 Community Budget Conversations

Budget Presentations

2021 Budget Calendar

September 10, 16 and 21, 2020 - Community Budget Conversations
Friday, October 9, 2020 - Proposed 2021 Budget published on City's website
Monday, October 19, 2020 - Special City Council Meeting on 2021 Proposed Budget
Monday, October 26, 2020 - 2021 Budget Public Hearing (at City Council meeting)
October- November - Budget Discussions at City Council meetings
Monday, November 9, 2020 - Introduction of Budget Ordinance and Tax Levies; Truth in Taxation Public Hearing (at City Council meeting)
Monday, November 23, 2020 - Anticipated adoption of Budget Ordinance and Tax Levies

Budget Memos

Between when the budget is proposed and adopted, the City publishes weekly budget memos to this webpage. These are further explanation and analysis on budget-related items, typically in response to requests from City Council members. To submit a topic for a budget memo, please use the form at the bottom of this page. We will do our best to respond to your questions.

2021 All Budget Memos

Community Budget Conversations

The City held a series of Community Budget Conversations about the 2021 Budget process via Zoom video conference. Each meeting shared information about the budget process in general as well as about a specific topic as noted below.

Feedback from 2021 Community Budget Conversations
Thursday, September 10, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Budget 101 - Presentation
Wednesday, September 16, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - COVID-19 Budget Impacts. Presentation
Monday, September 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Health & Human Services. Presentation
Jueves, Septiembre 24, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Conversaciones del Presupuesto 2021 (Sesión en español). Presentacion

FY 2020

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

2020 Adopted Budget Documents

The 2020 budget and 2019 tax levies were adopted by the City Council on November 25, 2019. More information on budget items can be found in the Budget Memos below.

2020 Adopted Budget Overview - Data Story
2020 Adopted Budget Document (with 2021 Projected Budget) - December 23, 2019
2020 Budget Ordinance - 149-O-19 - November 25, 2019
2019 Tax Levy Ordinances (payable 2020) - November 25, 2019

2020 Amended Budget

While the City did not exceed the adopted 2020 budget in total, the City is required to adopt a budget amendment to reconcile individual funds that exceeded the adopted budget. View the 2020 Budget Amendment Ordinance (38-O-21).

2020 Budget Presentations

November 18, 2019 - Budget and Tax Levies Proposed, City Council Meeting
November 11, 2019 - Budget Discussion, City Council Meeting
October 26, 2019 - Capital Improvement Plan Presentation
October 14, 2019 - City Council Meeting
September 17-21, 2019 - Presentation from Community Budget Roundtable Discussions
August 5, 2019 - Mid-year Budget Update

2020 Budget Memos

Weekly through October and November, the City will publish budget memos responding to questions from City Council and offering more detail on items contained in the 2020 budget.

Budget Memos through November 21, 2019
Feedback from Community Budget Roundtable Discussions (September 17, 19, and 21)

2020 Proposed Budget Documents

Printed copies of the proposed budget document are available in the City Clerk's Office, Evanston Public Library, and Main Library Branches.

2020-21 Proposed Budget - Full Document - October 4, 2019
Budget Balancing Worksheet - Updated as of November 15, 2019
2020-21 Proposed Budget Summary - October 4, 2019
2020-21 Proposed Budget Transmittal Letter - October 4, 2019
Budget Process Overview - Resumen del proceso presupuesto - October 4, 2019

FY 2019

Fiscal Year 2019 Adopted Budget

The Fiscal Year 2019 Budget was adopted by the City Council on November 19, 2018 in the amount of $319,165,450. The full Adopted Budget document is available below, along with summary documents.

Fiscal Year 2019 Proposed Budget

Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Presentations

September 13, 2018 - 2019 Budget Outreach presentation
October 22, 2018 - City Council Presentation - 2019 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets

Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Memos

Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Calendar

FY19 Budget Calendar
Community Budget Discussions - City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz and staff from the City Manager's Office met with community members to discuss the 2019 Budget at the following dates and locations:
- Tuesday, October 9, 8 a.m. - Café Coralie, 633 Howard St. (8th Ward)
- Tuesday, October 9, 6 p.m. - Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, 1823 Church St. (5th Ward)
- Monday, October 15, 10 a.m. - Backlot Coffee, 2006 Central St. (7th Ward)
- Tuesday, October 16, 2 p.m. - Curt's Café North, 2922 Central St. (6th Ward)
- Tuesday, October 16, 6 p.m. - Temperance Beer Company, 2000 Dempster St. (2nd Ward)
- Wednesday, October 17, 6 p.m. - Peckish Pig, 623 Howard St. (8th Ward)
- Monday, October 22, 10 a.m. - Berry Pike Café, 1100 Davis St. (4th Ward)
- Tuesday, October 23, 8 a.m. - Bagel Art Café, 615 Dempster St. (3rd Ward)
- Tuesday, October 23, 4 p.m. - Starbucks, 1734 Sherman Ave. (1st Ward)
- Tuesday, October 23, 6 p.m. - Pope John XXIII School, 1120 Washington St. (en español)
- Wednesday, October 24, 3:30 p.m. - Little Beans Café, 430 Asbury Ave. (9th Ward)

2019 Priority-Based Budgeting

Overview of Priority-based Budgeting

In 2018, the City of Evanston began its annual budget process months earlier than usual because the City is undertaking a priority-based budget process. This process allows staff, City Council, and the community to review all programs and services provided by the City prior to the creation of the 2019 budget. The 2019 Fiscal Year begins on January 1, 2019.

Staff Process

First, a list of 152 programs and services was created by staff and scored internally against a single set of metrics. A link to the measures and the full list of programs and services with scores from the staff process is posted below. This information was presented to City Council on April 30, 2018.

During the April 30, 2018 City Council meeting, staff presented a list of 54 programs for consideration for use in a public survey. Following the April 30 presentation, staff reviewed the programs again and determined that a number should be removed from the survey. They were removed if programs had revenues that more than covered their costs; programs were determined to be required services; programs were double-counted; or programs needed to be split into two categories. Staff then added descriptions and net costs to the survey.

Priority-based Budgeting Scoring Guidelines
Link to Full Program List: PDF - Download Excel - Socrata Open Data Portal

Public Survey

The paper survey was available online from from May 10-June 7, as well as in paper copies at libraries and community centers. Survey results were presented at the June 18 City Council meeting and are available below.

Link to Survey: PDF copy of Survey (submissions no longer accepted)
Survey Results: All results summary - Open-ended Questions full text

Additional information about the programs included in the survey can be found here:

Next Steps

The priority based budgeting review is only the FIRST step in the annual budget process. Staff will return to City Council on June 18 with the results of this community survey and seek additional direction from the City Council. Additional review will be done by City staff and a next check in with the City Council will occur July 30. Included in this additional review will be a careful examination of each program or service proposed to be reduced to evaluate any equity issues of the proposal.

Another round of community input will occur in September prior to the release of the City Manager’s Proposed 2019 Budget on October 6. The City Council will then conduct a public hearing on the budget and take other resident input through October and November, before the budget is adopted in late November.

City Council Memos/Presentations

March 19, 2018 - Memo - Presentation
April 30, 2018 - Memo- Presentation
June 18, 2018 - Memo - Presentation

Related Information

FY 2018

Fiscal Year 2018 Adopted Budget

Fiscal Year 2018 Proposed Budget

FY18 Proposed Budget

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Presentations

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Memos

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Calendar

Fiscal Year 2018 Multi-Media Community Budget Workshop

2018 Budget Workshop Presentation - September 13, 2017

This meeting was held on September 13, 2017 in the Morton Civic Center.

Budget Visualization

Using the 2015-18 City Budget data set, Chris Kucharczyk, an Evanston resident, created this visualization (click to view full size)

FY 2017

Fiscal Year 2017 Adopted Budget

2017 Adopted Budget

Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Budget

Budget Meeting - 2017 Budget

This meeting was held on September 21, 2016 in the Morton Civic Center.

Budget Presentations

Budget Memos

FY 2016

Fiscal Year 2016 Adopted Budget

2016 Adopted Budget

Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Process

FY 2015

FY 2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Adopted Budget

2014 Adopted Budget

Fiscal Year 2014 Proposed Budget

The FY 2014 Proposed Budget document is available for viewing here.

Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Memo Responses

Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Schedule and Citizen Participation

For information related to the City of Evanston's public outreach effort for the FY 2014 budget process, please click here.

FY 2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Documents

Fiscal Year 2013 Adopted Budget:

The City Council approved a yearend amendment to the FY 2013 Budget on March 24, 2014. The FY 2013 Budget as amended on March 24, 2014 is available for viewing here.

The City Council approved the Amended FY 2013 Budget on May 20, 2013. The FY 2013 Amended Budget document is available for viewing here.

Fiscal Year 2013 Proposed Budget:

The FY 2013 Proposed Budget document is available for viewing here.

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Schedule:

The FY 2013 Budget Calendar is available for viewing here.

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Comments:

The ideas, suggestions and comments submitted by residents relative to the FY 2013 Budget are available on the City's Engage Evanston MindMixer webpage at the following link: http://www.engageevanston.org/

The staff responses to budget comments submitted by residents are available for viewing here.

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Presentations:

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Questions and Answers:

Budget Memo Responses for 10-29-12 Meeting (Provided on 11-08-2012)

City Percentage Share of Property Tax Levy History:

The chart below provides a summary of the City of Evanston's percent share of the overall property tax levy since 1982:

Percent Share of Property Tax Levy Comparison:

The chart below provides a historical percentage breakdown of the overall property tax levy by taxing body since 2000:

Please note, the "Other Taxing Bodies" category is comprised of the following agencies: Consolidated Elections, Cook County, Cook County Forest Preserve, Suburban Tuberculosis Sanitarium, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, North Shore Mosquito Abatement District and Evanston Township.

FY 2012

Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Documents

To view documents for the 2011 fiscal year, click here.

FY 2012 Budget Adoption Documents

Amended Budget Policy

Budget Policy Amendment Resolution

FY 2012 Budget Reduction Worksheet - Per 11/15/11 Meeting

FY 2012 Budget Reduction Worksheet - 11/15/11

Budget Questions & Answers 11/09/11

Budget Memo Responses - 11/09/11

Fiscal Year 2012 - 2016 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan

CIP Presentation - 10/29/11

Budget Questions & Answers 10/25/11

Budget Memo Responses - 10/25/11

Proposed Budget

FY 2012 Proposed Budget - 10/7/11

Budget Presentations

Citizen Budget Input Sessions

FY 2012 Adopted Budget

FY 2011

The FY11 budget is a ten month transitional budget which will allow the City to shift to a calendar year budget in 2012. The FY11 budget is for a period from March 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.