Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson budget team now pushing $60M property tax hike in effort to pass agreement before end of 2024

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget team is pushing a drastically reduced property tax hike in hopes it might get enough votes to get a budget passed before the end of the year.

The latest number is approximately $60 million.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Negotiations have also now eliminated another proposed tax hike that drew a lot of push back.

As the chill of December sets in, many Council members are still not warming up to the idea of a property tax hike of any kind.

“Residents are already squeezed enough, and they cannot afford another property tax,” 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares said.

The mayor’s $300 million property tax hike was voted down 50-to-0, but the latest working plan has cut that down to just $60 million. That’s about the amount it would go up if the mayor took the automatic increase tied to inflation.

“Well, the fact that we started at 300, and we went to 150. Now, we’re maybe talking about 60 is extremely troubling to me. Because, number one, it appears that, you know, we should have started at 60,” 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale said.

The mayor would not talk specifics, saying he won’t negotiate in the media.

But, he made it clear he was dead-set against cuts.

RELATED: Council members propose budget cuts in letter to Chicago mayor to avoid avoid property tax hike

“The people of Chicago say a lot of things to me, but they never say, ‘Mayor Johnson, could you just cut these services? Mayor Johnson can you just lay off more people?” Johnson said.

One alder is proposing the Council be updated on budget data quarterly to avoid the end-of-year scramble now underway.

“Because, if we’re just shooting from the hip at the end of the year, we might find out next year the projections are wildly off, and see a bigger problem,” 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez said.

One proposed revenue source that is off the table now is the increase in the liquor tax, which drew strong opposition from the restaurant industry.

The mayor’s Budget Committee chair predicts some form of property tax increase will eventually pass.

“I think that ultimately we have to fund government at a level that people expect for the services to be continued,” Ald. Jason Ervin said.

For now, the negotiations continue behind the scenes.

“We’re in the midst of negotiations with alders. We’re in the midst of hearing their ideas; we’re in the midst of running numbers based on what they’re asking us,” Budget Director Annette Guzman said.

Johnson said he’s committed to presenting a balanced budget by the end of the year, as required by law, but he stopped short of predicting one would be passed by the City Council to avoid a government shutdown.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Report: Here's How Trump Might Deal With Countries That Refuse to Take Their Illegal Immigrants Back

Analysis: Trump’s Possible Approach to Countries Declining to Accept Their Undocumented Immigrants

The upcoming Trump administration is compiling a list of countries to deport…
Wizard of Oz heist: Stolen ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 'The Wizard of Oz' are auctioned for $28 million

The Wizard of Oz Robbery: Ruby Slippers Worn by Judy Garland Auctioned for $28 Million

MINNEAPOLIS — In a thrilling turn of events, a pair of the…
I'm Old Enough to Remember When the Bloodthirsty Left Told Americans to Shut Up About Health Care

I Remember When Liberal Critics Urged Americans to Be Quiet About Health Care

Back then, terms like crap sandwiches and porkulus were widely used in…
Assassin's great escape mapped minute by minute: how Brian Thompson's killer snuck out of one of world's most surveilled cities

Step-by-step account of an assassin’s extraordinary getaway: the meticulous plan of Brian Thompson’s murderer to leave from a highly monitored city.

The brazen assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson stunned New York and the…
CNN guest airs outrageous theory UnitedHealthcare CEO could have organized his OWN assassination

CNN guest suggests controversial idea that the CEO of UnitedHealthcare might have planned his own murder

A CNN guest his suggested that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have…
US-world news: 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago

A 100-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Survivor Remembers Japanese Bombing 83 Years Ago: A Story of Confusion and Chaos

When Bob Fernandez enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1941 at…
Heartwarming story of missing man found by sister after 25 years takes very dark turn

Missing man found by sister after 25 years turns into a dark twist

The heartwarming story of a California sister who found her missing brother 25 years…
NYPD releases two NEW pictures of healthcare boss's assassin during his getaway in the back of a cab

“NYPD Shares Fresh Images of Suspect Fleeing in Taxi After Assassinating Healthcare Executive”

New photos of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s alleged killer have been released by…
Top lawyer tears into Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for trying to 'strong-arm' Daniel Penny jury with bombshell court move

Prominent attorney criticizes Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s attempt to influence Daniel Penny jury with surprising legal tactic

A prominent attorney has criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his…
Bashar al-Assad is mocked as rebels unearth photo of Syrian president in a tiny pair of Speedos - as militants take Homs and officials say government could fall 'in the next week'

Rebels find embarrassing photo of Syrian president in small swim trunks as they capture Homs and government faces possible collapse within the week

Bashar al-Assad has been mocked after rebels unearthed a photo of the…
Judge makes shock decision over Delta stowaway Svetlana Dali as new details emerge about her

New Details Revealed as Judge Makes Unexpected Decision in Delta Stowaway Svetlana Dali’s Case

The stowaway who hid on a flight from New York to Paris…
Syria War | Syrian opposition activists, rebel commander say insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus

The war in Syria: Rebels and opposition activists report that fighters have advanced to the outskirts of Damascus.

BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus as part…