(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Lightfoot’s proposed $16.4 billion budget doesn’t hike property taxes and pays down the city’s pension debt somewhat faster. There’s another $200 million for homelessness prevention.
Reactions were mixed across the City Council’s 50 aldermen.
Mayoral ally and Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack (32nd) said revenues are up and that allows for a "good news" budget.
What’s not to like? Frequent mayoral critic Anthony Beale (9th) says everything, but mostly he complains about a lack of detail. He says there are not enough specifics for him to trust the mayor's assertions.
“When you look at the amount of money that’s being spread around and the lack of substance behind it, it gives me great pause,” he said.
Lightfoot’s budget message did not address measures dealing with gun violence but did include setting aside more money for recruiting new police officers.
Fourth Ward Ald. Sophia King — one of three council members challenging Lightfoot for her job — said she wants to examine the details of the budget, including how it deals with violent crime.
“Also, we’ll be looking at last year’s budget to see how we spent the money that we said we were going to spend on crime, before,” she said. “I don’t want to throw good money after bad.”
Council Budget Committee Chair Pat Dowell (3rd) counters those who say people don’t want to be cops right now. She said police officials tell her they are doing well in getting more people to apply.
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