Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is merging some City departments to save money in a tough economy.
The high profile Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events will become one. The General Services and Graphics departments also will be combined. Community Development and Zoning will be blended at the beginning of January.
Daley says streamlining departments is about better service but ultimately about cutting costs.
DALEY: One dollar saved by tax payers means a lot. Simple as that. One dollar. A hundred dollars. Someone says it doesn’t mean. A hundred dollars or $500. I’m telling you it is. You save every dollar and that’s hard earned tax payer’s money as long as you save it.
Daley offered no details when asked how much money will be saved or how many jobs may be affected by the consolidations.