
(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Lightfoot won’t say how many city workers could be laid off because of the pandemic and the answer may depend on Capitol Hill.
The city of Chicago must make up $2 billion in unanticipated expenses and lost revenue because of the pandemic.
Mayor Lightfoot said she hopes Congress will offer assistance to local governments in a new relief package, although so far Republicans and Democrats have been deadlocked over the scope of a deal.
She did not rule out some layoffs.
“No one wants to see that happen, no one wants to see a reduction in the kind of services that are core to what we do as a city government,” Lightfoot said.
Even a property tax hike is on the table. The mayor said that is the last resort, given the pain people have already suffered in 2020.