Mayor Brandon Johnson defended his budget proposal Saturday after the sudden resignation of his newly appointed CFO, Ashlee Gabrysch, calling his plan “fair and balanced.”

Johnson largely avoided adding on to his administration’s public criticism of Gabrysch as his mayoral campaign launched a new West Side hub. Instead, he tried to steer attention back to the contentious and increasingly complicated budget fight gripping City Hall.

“What is very clear is that people in Chicago want progressive revenue to be generated through progressive forms of taxation, particularly our big corporations and millionaires and billionaires,” he said when asked about Gabrysch’s resignation.

Still, Johnson echoed a plea his administration quickly made Friday, calling for the city inspector general he appointed in April, David Glockner, to investigate Gabrysch’s conduct in office. But he said his administration will not report her to the inspector general.

“I’m looking forward to the investigation of the OIG and would certainly recommend that,” he said.

The comments marked the mayor’s first public comments on the ugly breakup between his administration and the leader tasked with steering the city’s finances.

In a resignation letter first reported Friday by the Tribune, Gabrysch told Johnson she was unable to fulfill her obligation to provide “complete and accurate” statements about the city’s finances. Staying in the role would “compromise my integrity and professional obligations,” she said in a statement to the Tribune.

On Saturday, Johnson declined to say what might have sparked the comment, adding that he “can’t speak for someone else’s intentions.”

“I can only speak to the work that I’ve done. Again, our work has been quite clear that we are investing in people, and you know my budget is a fair budget. It’s a balanced budget,” he said.

Johnson’s administration quickly shot back Friday, accusing Gabrysch of being absent during critical periods of planning for the city’s budget process in a statement from spokesperson Allison Novelo.

“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,” Novelo said. “Given the seriousness of these concerns, we will refer the matter to the City’s Office of Inspector General for independent review.”

Asked about the investigation Saturday, Johnson said he had made no official report to Glockner’s office, but nonetheless welcomed an inspector general investigation.

“My corporation counsel delivered an emphatic message that she acted outside of the authority and she did not have the authorization to do what she did,” he said. “But we’re moving on from that now.”

Amid the Johnson administration’s threats, City Council leaders, including Finance Committee chair Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, and vice chair Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, called for investigations into Gabrysch’s claims and city finances Friday.

It’s a sign her resignation has further upended the playing field as Johnson and his aldermanic opponents negotiate and fight over the city’s 2027 budget.

Johnson has centered tax-the-rich proposals in his budget advocacy, but a council majority already clearly opposed to many of his most ambitious plans has warned the mayor he must draft new ideas to resolve a roughly $400 million lingering budget gap. For his part, Johnson argues aldermen must come up with their own solutions if they disagree with his, but most in the council say the ball is in the mayor’s court because only he has the tools and legal responsibility to make such proposals.

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