Chicago mayor lauds city financial improvements in speech

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used his annual budget speech to laud the cash-strapped city for being "back on solid ground."

Emanuel told members of the Chicago City Council on Tuesday morning that the 2017 budget he's proposing is free of a pension crisis and insolvency threatening city employee retirements. He warned though that the city has "stay vigilant in making the fiscally difficult choices" because the work is not done.

Emanuel said the city still has a budget shortfall but it's $137.6 million compared to $635 million in 2011.

The mayor's proposed budget includes nearly $134 million for previously announced addition of 970 Chicago police officers to address the city's increase in violence. It also includes an increase in spending on children, including an expansion of summer jobs programs.