Money From Where?

Conehead says money is tight. Police classes are cancelled. Fire apparatus isn't being repaired. OT will be sharply restricted. Layoffs are likely. He might even have to raise taxes.

In the meantime:

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters this week that "everything is on table," including the potential layoff of city workers, which Johnson said he hopes to avoid, as the city grapples with how to address a nearly billion-dollar budget shortfall.

  But invoices and receipts uncovered by NBC 5 Investigates are raising questions about why during a time of financial crisis did the city spend more than $80,000 redecorating and renovating an office in the Chicago Cultural Center for First Lady Stacie Johnson.

  The invoices and receipts, obtained by NBC 5 Investigates through a series of Freedom of Information Act requests, show that work order requests began in February and continued through August of this year to renovate and redecorate Room 306 in the Chicago Cultural Center.

It's getting so a mayor can't even afford to go on a "business trip" to London, but by golly:

• One invoice shows the city was billed more than $43,000 for furniture, including a $2,200 high-back executive chair and a $4,400 desk that's referenced on the invoice as "First Lady's Desk." Another $4,600 is listed for what appears to be the desk for a staffer. The same invoice shows more than $8,300 was spent on two club chairs.

Someone's ass is going to be pampered by a $4,000 chair.