Chicago Hts. sets special session on budget deadlock

Chicago Heights Mayor Angelo Ciambrone was so angry that the suburb's city council shot down his $19 million budget that he stormed out of the meeting and accidentally locked the aldermen in the council chambers.

The mishap lasted but a moment Monday, but the budget deadlock continued. Council members remain figuratively shackled to their desks if they want to avoid a temporary shutdown of some city services.

Unable to agree on a 1997-98 budget, the council scheduled a special session today to approve one before the new fiscal year begins Thursday. If an agreement is not reached today, the city may close non-essential services, at least temporarily, officials said. Ciambrone was proud that his budget proposal achieved $1.2 million in cuts without laying off anyone. But the council rejected it by a 4-2 vote, prompting Ciambrone's embarrassing exit. 

Both sides expressed optimism that a budget will be passed today, so far they can't even agree on the meeting schedule. Ald. Dollie Helsel said, "If we have to stay there from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., I have no doubt in my mind we will pass a budget." Helsel, part of an unusual coalition of two Republicans and two independent Democrats, said the special session will meet at 8 a.m. But Ciambrone's supporters said the city council will meet at 8 p.m., a time set by the mayor