Chicago aldermen are poring over last-minute amendments before they vote on the 2011 budget. Some aldermen say a number of city unions still have not agreed to the furlough days spelled out in the $6.2 billion spending plan. 22nd ward Alderman Rick Munoz said he needs more details before casting his vote, “the mayor is balancing the budget without union concessions and there haven’t been any indications. Why should we vote for a budget that’s not already agreed upon?”

28^th ward alderman Ed Smith said he doesn’t see anything in the budget that he wouldn’t vote for. As for the issue of union concessions Smith said, “there might be some people and there might some unions who might be adverse to what’s going on. I think the mayor ultimately and his people will talk to the unions and try to get them in a place where we can at least all work together.”

Munoz said his vote is also dependant on whether funding for affordable housing makes it into the budget, “if that’s not in the budget that’s going to be a problem. We need to make the city more affordable and obviously the taxes not going up is a good position for him to hav,e but obviously we need to make the city more affordable and less corrupt,” Munoz said.

Mayor Daley is not proposing higher taxes to help balance the city’s budget, but is relying on revenue from last year’s parking meter lease, and cuts in budgeted jobs to minimize the $654.7 million budget shortfall.