Mayor Daley concerned about Obama election night rally costs.

My Chicago Sun-Times colleague, ace city hall reporter Fran Spielman was just at a press conference in City Hall in Chicago where Mayor Daley was asked about the costs of the city services associated with Barack Obama’s election night rally at Grant Park, expected to draw thousands to the lakefront for the historic event.

The mayor asked about the Obama rally said, “That’s what we are talking about.”

Asked if he has a price tag yet, Daley said, “That will be the issue.”

Daley decoder Spielman tells me that Daley’s comment indicates that there are discussions going on–or will be– between City Hall and the Obama campaign about the rally costs.

Chicago is hardly in any position to pay for any of this.

Daley charges the Bears, the Cubs, the Bulls, the Blackhawks and the White Sox an hourly fee to reimburse the city for traffic control enforcement during games. They pay $18.25 per hour for every traffic aide assigned to their events, to go up to next year.

Daley is grappling with a $465 million deficit and has just proposed a budget that lays off 929 city workers and raises amusement and parking taxes and a laundry list of fees.

Chicago is hardly in any position to pay for any of this.

Daley charges the Bears, the Cubs, the Bulls, the Blackhawks and the White Sox an hourly fee to reimburse the city for traffic control enforcement during games. They pay $18.25 per hour for every traffic aide assigned to their events, to go up to next year.

Daley is grappling with a $465 million deficit and has just proposed a budget that lays off 929 city workers and raises amusement and parking taxes and a laundry list of fees.