CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $17 billion budget won final approval Monday, with just two weeks to spare and amid criticism from some friends and foes.
Progressive 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden said she and others felt Mayor Johnson wasn’t really collaborating with council members.
“When some of us expressed strong concern about the direction of the strategy that your team was taking, time and again, we were ignored, rebuffed,” Hadden said.
Conservative 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner said he felt disrespected.
“I beg of you to start talking to some of the members,” Gardiner said. “There’s only 50 of us in here. We can’t even talk to you.”
But, the mayor, who repeatedly calls himself “collaborator in chief,” defended the process:
“There are alders that say that we didn’t hear them, but there were multiple alders that said they wanted us to find more cuts and efficiencies. We did that,” claimed Johnson.
The property tax, he said, vanished entirely.
Some Chicago City Council members worry that Johnson’s 2025 budget sets up an even tougher battle next year. But, the mayor is counting on new revenue to help ease the way.
Johnson doesn’t deny that next year the City will likely also face a big budget crunch. But, he said he wants to see council members, organized labor and others fight for what he calls “progressive revenue” in Springfield.
“We do not have a progressive income tax,” said Johnson. “There are a number of ideas that are out there that would challenge the ultra-rich to pay their fair share, plethora of ideas…All those ideas will be on the table. We’ll continue to organize to ensure that the rich pay their fair share in this state.”
The Graduated Income Tax amendment was rejected by Illinois voters in 2020, just as real estate transfer tax on high end properties in Chicago was defeated this year.
Can he get the Governor Pritzker to try again?
“We’re having regular conversations with the governor’s team,” said Johnson. “We have spoken with the speaker of the house as well as the senate president, engaging them as well around a host of ideas…It’s too early to indicate whether or not someone is going to make a commitment one way or the other.”
The governor previously has sounded reluctant.
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