CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Despite resistance, the Chicago City Council has decided to delay today’s budget vote.
Chicago aldermen were expected to vote on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s latest proposed 2025 budget. But, overnight, the mayor called for the vote to be canceled, reportedly sensing he didn’t have enough support for the budget to get passed.
This morning, Alderman Ray Lopez told WBBM the mayor didn’t have the authority to pull the budget vote off the agenda and believed a vote was still going to happen.
It turned out to not be the case. A Johnson ally, Alderman Jason Ervin, introduced a measure to recess the meeting until Monday afternoon. The measure passed amid a chaotic atmosphere.
Today’s development marks just the latest chapter in what has been a trying month at City Hall.
After aldermen unanimously rejected an initial proposal that included $300 million property hike, Johnson’s administration negotiated a revised budget plan that reduced the property tax increase to $68.5 million but contained increases in other fines and fees, including the parking tax at garages and valet services as well as an increase to the bag tax.
This week, the new proposal squeaked out of the committee, but many alders remained dissatisfied.
Downtown Alderman Brendan Reilly was surprised the mayor even called this meeting, saying he never had the 25 or 26 votes that he needs to pass the budget.
Reilly told WBBM Chicagoans don’t want a $68 million property tax increase when the mayor is expanding things like a youth jobs program and other things. He asked if the mayor is listening to those arguments.
“I do believe the administration has heard, even from its own allies, that they need to go back to the drawing board, and they have to include more cuts.
By law, a balanced budget must be in place by Dec. 31.
WBBM reporters Craig Dellimore, Mike Krauser, Hayley Hansen contributed.
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