One concern prior to this May's NATO summit was that Chicago taxpayers would foot potential cost overruns. But the Chicago Tribune reports today that a quite different issue has emerged. The city is sitting on a surplus, estimated to be as much as $14.9 million, that private donors gave to fund NATO.

Instead of going into the city general revenue fund, the Tribune reports that the mayor can spend these millions without city council approval. One project thus far has come from the NATO fund, $150,000 to the Illinois DREAM Fund to provide college scholarships to undocumented immigrants.