Chicago mayor's CFO resigned after three months, and the resignation letter is scathing

Brandon Johnson Chicago mayor's CFO resigned after three months, and the resignation letter is scathing Ashlee Gabrysch's resignation took effect on Friday, marking the third CFO to leave the mayor's administration in the last year. By Rose Schmidt and Alex Dvorak • Published 49 minutes ago • Updated 23 minutes ago Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's chief financial officer has resigned from her post after just three months on the job, leaving a scathing resignation letter as she departed. Ashlee Gabrysch's resignation took effect on Friday, marking the third CFO to leave the mayor's administration in the last year. Gabrysch began her role in the position in August. Stream NBC 5 for free, 24/7, wherever you are. WATCH HERE "The Chief Financial Officer's statements about the City's finances are relied upon by investors, rating agencies, City Council, and taxpayers, and they must be complete and accurate. I am not able to fulfill those obligations under the conditions in which I have been asked to serve," Gabrysch wrote in her resignation letter to Johnson. She added that she felt it "has become apparent, however, that to continue in this role would be to compromise my integrity and professional obligations." “Throughout my career, I have remained committed to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency, and in my short time as Chief Financial Officer, I have faithfully discharged this duty," she wrote. The mayor's office said it accepted Gabrysch's resignation, "effective immediately." "The City of Chicago is facing a serious budget crisis following decades of mismanagement. It is concerning that, during her short tenure, Ashlee was largely absent during critical periods of the City’s budget preparation process. Additionally, her decision to direct the City Treasurer to issue a $75 million payment without proper legal authority or following the required processes raises serious concerns," the mayor's press secretary said in a statement. "Our administration made multiple attempts to meet with her to discuss this action and seek an explanation, including shortly before her public resignation. Those attempts went unresolved." Chicago Politics Illinois Politics 20 hours ago With Pritzker eyeing 2028, will lieutenant governor role be more important? Elections Nov 9 Pritzker speaks in Washington amid speculation over possible White House bid A spokesperson for the mayor's office told NBC Chicago Gabrysch "acted without legal authority and in violation of established legislative procedures by directing the City Treasurer to issue the $75 million payment before the Nov. 2 legislation had taken effect." "She was required to wait for the mayor to sign or veto the legislation or, alternatively, for it to take effect automatically at the next City Council meeting," the spokesperson said. Gabrysch called it an “effort to deflect from the serious issues at stake and attack those who attempt to hold them accountable," a move she said was "disappointing but not surprising." Still, the resignation sparked plenty of questions from city officials. "Mayor Johnson was on his third CFO in less than a year. The 3rd just resigned after a few weeks on the job. This was after she pointed out the serious flaws in the Johnson budget on the first day of hearings," Ald. Scott Waguespack wrote on social media. Comptroller Michael Belsky Statement said he was "disappointed" to learn of the news, as he helped recruit Gabrysch for the role. "As is sometimes the case in any workplace, certain professional relationships and working arrangements do not work out," he said. "That said, in my time with the City, the Mayor and his team have been extremely transparent, open, and honest with the public and City Council about the City’s fiscal position. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply incorrect." Meanwhile, 34th Ward Alderman and Finance Committee Vice Chair Ald. Bill Conway called for "an immediate and robust investigation." “In her resignation letter, Ms. Gabrysch wrote that the CFO’s statements must be 'complete and accurate' and that she is 'not able to fulfill those obligations under the conditions in which I have been asked to serve,''" Conway said. “This is an obvious indication that she was asked by the Mayor’s Office to present false information. Considering how often Chicago is in the debt markets, and as we approach a budget deadline for taxpayers, the integrity of the City’s financial statements is paramount. This revelation and resignation have consequences that could harm our credit rating and put Chicago on even shakier fiscal ground. "If Mayor Johnson asked his CFO to act or speak dishonestly, that is a shocking act against taxpayers and potentially criminal fraud," his statement read. Johnson's office also said it wants an investigation, saying "given the seriousness" of the concerns the administration raised regarding Gabrysch's performance, "we will refer the matter to the City’s Office of Inspector General for independent review." "We welcome a full review of the conduct at issue," the mayor's office said. "Our administration takes its responsibility to protect taxpayer dollars, uphold the law, and ensure the responsible management of City finances seriously. We expect every City official to meet that standard." Belsky will serve as acting CFO, effective immediately. Read Gabrysch's full statement below: "As the City of Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer, there is nothing more important than my fiduciary duty to the City and its taxpayers. The Chief Financial Officer’s statements about city finances are not idle chatter: they are relied upon by investors, ratings agencies, City Council, and taxpayers. The CFO must act scrupulously to ensure they are always accurate and complete. “Throughout my career, I have remained committed to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency, and in my short time as Chief Financial Officer, I have faithfully discharged this duty. It has become apparent, however, that to continue in this role would be to compromise my integrity and professional obligations. I therefore have concluded that I must step down from my role, and hereby tender my resignation.” This article tagged under: Brandon Johnson