Mayor Brandon Johnson, fired Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates meet before budget vote

Mayor Brandon Johnson and top education officials are meeting Wednesday, ahead of a crucial Chicago Public Schools board meeting Thursday.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and fired CPS CEO Pedro Martinez were seen walking into City Hall Wednesday afternoon.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The goal is to try to bring all sides to the table ahead of a budget decision Thursday.

The city is asking the school district to make a $175 million payment to cover pensions.

Without the payment, the city’s budget would be unbalanced.

Johnson was joined by seven senior cabinet members, including his finance and budget directors Tuesday, to lay out options for CPS in its budget battle with the city: at issue is a $175 million pension payment for non-teacher employees at CPS.

The city already made the payment, and now is demanding CPS repay the money before the end of the month.

“We’re recommending a short-term borrowing to serve as a bridge to working out a more fulsome budget solution for CPS,” Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said.

CPS is in the middle of a five-year plan to assume full responsibility for its employees pensions. During this time, the city is helping the cash-strapped district make those payments.

On Thursday, the Board will vote on an amended budget that calls for paying for teacher and principal contracts, but not making the pension payment, because it doesn’t have the money to do both.

“Well, look, there’s a responsibility the Board of Education has. They have to do both. They have to do both,” Johnson said.

In a report just completed for the Board of Education, a consultant offered numerous options.

Budget cuts were considered “highly challenging at best.”

And refinancing debt, the report warned, could result in “additional interest costs … and thus potential future budget shortfalls.”

The mayor criticized CPS CEO Pedro Martinez for not including the $175 million payment in the budget that was passed last August.

“The failure to do that is, is reprehensible,” Johnson said.

This is a developing story; check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like
Purple Heart Army veteran self-deports from Hawaii

Purple Heart Army veteran voluntarily leaves Hawaii

HONOLULU (KABC) — Sae Joon Park, who had resided in the U.S.…
Hinsdale bans children from operating electric scooters, cracks down on e-bike violations, citing public safety

Hinsdale Implements Strict Regulations on Electric Scooters and E-Bikes for Public Safety

HINSDALE, Ill. (WLS) — Some suburbs are taking action to ensure public…
Robert Kennedy, Mehmet Oz Announce and Insurance Providers Co-Sign Pre-Authorization Process Changes

Robert Kennedy and Mehmet Oz partner with insurance providers to announce changes in the pre-authorization process

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy and Dr. Mehmet Oz,…
Yikes! Jasmine Crockett Gives Harris Competition After Incomprehensible Word Salad Response on Iran

Jasmine Crockett Competes with Harris in Response to Confusing Statement on Iran

During a House Oversight Committee hearing focused on securing cuts to the…
FBI pivots resources to counterterror, cybersecurity efforts amid Iran retaliation threat: Source

FBI shifts focus to counterterrorism and cybersecurity in response to potential retaliation from Iran: Insider

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A source familiar told…
NTSB set to meet on door plug investigation of terrifying Alaska Airlines flight

NTSB to discuss investigation of door plug on frightening Alaska Airlines flight

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is focused on preventing incidents like…
Scott Jennings, Bill Maher Light It Up on Trump's Powerful Speech, Transformative Change He's Bringing

Ex-Obama Staffer Suggests Trump Should Show Appreciation to Previous Presidents for Iran Deal, CNN Analyst Corrects Her

Johanna Maska, who has worked alongside Barack Obama for many years, suggested…
Hiker disappears from ‘Edge of the World’ campground on trip with father

Hiker goes missing from ‘Edge of the World’ campsite while hiking with dad

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Arizona authorities made a…
Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos talk about bringing Marvel Universe to Chicago ahead of 'Ironheart' release time

Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos chat about introducing the Marvel Universe to Chicago before the premiere of ‘Ironheart’

CHICAGO (WLS) — ABC7 is counting down to the new “Ironheart” series,…
Women from Kentucky knocked unconscious after Florida lightning strike at JW Marriott resort on Marco Island

Kentucky Women Rendered Unconscious by Lightning Strike at JW Marriott Resort in Florida

A group of women who were on a Florida vacation say they…
Karmelo Anthony formally charged with MURDER for stabbing Austin Metcalf in high school crime that stunned the country

Former NBA player, Carmelo Anthony, formally charged with murder for stabbing Austin Metcalf in a high school crime that shocked the nation

Karmelo Anthony, a teenager who has confessed to fatally stabbing another high…
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler poke fun at Meghan Markle with barbed comment about her recipes

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler make jokes about Meghan Markle by making sharp comments about her cooking.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler made jokes about Meghan Markle at a…