Integrity drove Ashlee Gabrysch to resign on Friday morning, as Chicago’s chief financial officer stepped down just three months into her tenure.
Mayor Brandon Johnson accused Gabrysch of mismanagement and being largely absent during budget preparations, according to WTTW News. Gabrysch said that continuing in her role would compromise her professional obligations.
“As the city of Chicago’s chief financial officer, there is nothing more important than my fiduciary duty to the city and its taxpayers,” Gabrysch said in a statement first reported by the Chicago Tribune.
The dispute centers on a $75 million payment from new parking meter owners. The Chicago City Council voted 44–6 on Nov. 2 to use those funds for pension payments.
Gabrysch ordered City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin to issue the $75 million payment on Nov. 6. Acting Corporation Counsel Renee Hatcher emailed Gabrysch to state she acted without the necessary legal authority, records show.
“It is concerning that, during her short tenure, Ashlee (Gabrysch) was largely absent during critical periods of the city’s budget preparation process,” mayoral spokesperson Allison Novelo told WTTW News.
Johnson’s administration plans to refer the payment matter to the inspector general’s office for review. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) warned that the CFO’s departure signals severe fiscal problems to credit ratings agencies.
The city faces a $17.6 billion budget for 2027 with a remaining gap of roughly $409 million. Gabrysch previously told the City Council on Oct. 26 that borrowing $481 million for police misconduct lawsuits reduced structural revenue solutions to 56%.
Only 46 days remain for the city to finalize its 2027 spending plan. The next regular meeting of the City Council is not scheduled until December, leaving the ordinance unexecuted.
“Given the seriousness of these concerns, the mayor’s office will refer the matter to the office of the inspector general,” Novelo said.