CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Mayor Brandon Johnson's finance team faced close questioning about taxes and revenues during City Council's initial budget hearing.
Budget Committee Vice-Chair Alderwoman Nicole Lee warned the administration that she's worried about whether the proposed property tax will solve the long term problem.
"I don't think you'll find one person in this room who's really thrilled about a $300 million increase in our tax levy, and we certainly don't want to have to be going back to anybody again in subsequent years," Lee said.
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. asked why the City is still making a major advance payment on its pensions when others say it could be skipped this year.
City Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said it's because the debt would not be lowered.
"We retain that same gap, so next year we'd have to raise property taxes or some other revenues by that same amount," Jaworski argued.
Downtown Alderman Brendan Reilly doesn't believe there are enough votes to pass the mayor's budget and tax increase as proposed, and he asked why there aren't more cuts in the budget instead.
"Has the administration taken a look at some budget overlays that would include cuts across the board to some of the largest departments?" Reilly asked.
Budget Director Annette Guzman said if you don't cut the police and fire departments you are talking about larger cuts to other departments and that will hurt.
"What you're looking at is over 55 percent cuts in every other department in the city, that is largely going to be layoffs to all of our other City departments, and the departments that are going to be impacted the most from non-CPD/CF cuts are your infrastructure departments," Guzman said.
Other alders are talking about cuts as well.
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