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
‘Outlander’ Stars Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin Won’t Reveal if the Lallybroch Renovations Will Ever Be Finished: “Don’t Get Me Started” 

‘Outlander’ Cast Members Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin Keep Mum on Completion of Lallybroch Renovations: “I’d Rather Not Talk About It”

The latest episode of Outlander, Season 7 Episode 11 “A Hundredweight of…
Elon Musk spent over $270 million to help re-elect Trump, here's what he spent it on

Elon Musk used more than $270 million to support Trump’s re-election campaign – Discover where the money went

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, invested more than $250…
He let off a fatal volley of shots then hopped on an e-bike, melting into a city alive with CCTV cameras as witnesses called police. So why is the gunman who left UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson dead on the pavement still at large?

Gunman in Fatal Shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Still Free despite CCTV Footage and Witnesses Contacting Police

His victim was lying injured on the sidewalk and bystanders were already…
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…
Dexter Reed Chicago: Questions surround city's settlement with mom of man killed in Garfield Park police shooting

Uncovering the details of the settlement between Dexter Reed’s mother and the city of Chicago after Garfield Park police shooting

CHICAGO (WLS) — Dexter Reed was struck 13 times after four Chicago…
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…
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…
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…
Christmas tree ship Chicago: US Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw delivers 1.2K Christmas trees to Navy Pier from Cheboygan, Michigan

US Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw Brings 1.2K Christmas Trees to Navy Pier from Cheboygan, Michigan for Christmas Tree Ship Chicago

The spirit of Christmas was brought to Navy Pier by the United…
The new Kate Middleton: Body language expert reveals the two signs that show how the Princess of Wales has changed after year from hell - and why she's now echoing Princess Diana

“Body Language Expert Identifies Two Signs of Transformation in Kate Middleton Since Facing Challenges, Drawing Parallel with Princess Diana”

Kate Middleton was far more ‘animated’ and ‘less guarded’ as she attended her…
The 'perverse' reason we've given up on California and are now fleeing to the other side of the world

The unusual reason we have abandoned California and are now escaping to a different part of the world

A writer disclosed that he and his spouse are leaving California for…
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…