“Mayor Brandon Johnson Presents Chicago City Council with Property Tax-Free Budget Proposal”

CHICAGO (WLS) — As the Chicago City Council gathers again on Monday afternoon, the main question on everyone’s mind is whether Mayor Brandon Johnson will have enough backing to push for a vote on the city’s budget. Additionally, the uncertainty lies in whether there will be a new budget proposal ready for voting. According to political analysts, the likelihood of this happening is slim.

The questions come as sources told ABC7 Sunday that Mayor Johnson’s latest budget proposal will not include property tax hike.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson’s sudden adjournment of Friday’s City Council meeting was seen as a move to avoid a potential public defeat, as his second budget proposition lacked the necessary support of at least 26 votes required for approval. The mayor’s proposed $68.5 million increase in property taxes was deemed excessive by a significant portion of the City Council.

“Although today’s outcome may have dealt a heavy blow to Mayor Johnson, it was a significant win for the taxpayers of Chicago who have been urging my fellow council members to make budget reductions over the past few weeks,” remarked 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly.

While the mayor insisted Friday that he’s taking ideas from every direction, continuing to call himself the city’s “collaborator-in-chief,” the city’s political observers say his biggest problem so far is failing to talk to those who stand in opposition to him.

“There is a fresh round of briefings and conversations going on and the same 35% to 40% of the council that hasn’t been included in recent months still isn’t being included,” Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson said. “That’s not governing.”

Over the last month, City Council has rejected the mayor’s budget plans twice, voting unanimously to reject what was initially a $300 million property tax hike. They are calling on the Johnson administration to make cuts to the budget and trim the fat off his proposals.

“The key question on the table is, is Mayor Brandon Johnson willing to accept furloughs and some job cuts in order to get to a budget?” Better Government Association President David Greising said.

Some are saying that furloughs may be one of the few options available, insisting there is a lot of work that needs to be done ahead of time to make massive budget cuts happen, work that has so far not taken place.

With City council members now apparently in the driver’s seat, it is good old fashioned horse trading that is paving the way to 26 votes.

“There’s $50,000 here, there’s $30,000 here. There’s the promise of a fieldhouse that we have absolutely no capacity to build,” Ferguson said.

The city needs to have a budget in place by December 31 in order to avoid a government shutdown. Also of concern is that either the final outcome, or even just the political instability, will lead to a downgrade in the city’s credit rating.