(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Brandon Johnson says he and the City Council are indeed collaborating on the budget, which by law must be approved by the year's end. However, the planned property tax hike is a lot smaller than the mayor wanted.
City Council Budget Committee Chair Alderman Jason Ervin (28th ward) said with possible new revenues and such, the property tax hike could be as low as what would be a cost of living increase, around $60 million or so.
“We'll probably be closer to CPI than the 150. But nonetheless, there will be some level of property tax increase that will be part of the package.”
Mayor Johnson would not discuss specifics but said he is standing by his refusal to cut staffing and he challenged alders who favor cuts.
“Listen, the people of Chicago say a lot of things to me. But they never say, ‘Mayor Johnson, could you just cut these services? Mayor Johnson, could you just lay off more people?’ No one.
I have been mayor for 18 months. Not one constituent has ever come up to me and said, ‘lay off police officers, lay off firefighters.’”
The city has until the end of the month to settle on a new budget at City Hall.
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok