Some alders are suggesting it may be so close it will require the mayor himself to cast the tie breaking vote.
The mayor and his team have made some changes to the controversial corporate head tax, trying to soften opposition. Now, they are working to get 25 Council members onboard so they can call for a budget vote. Right now, that's still seen as a work in progress.
Council members were expecting the mayor to introduce his revenue package Friday, but instead it was delayed until committee meetings on Monday.
That will give the Johnson administration more time to adjust the plan, and make their case to budget holdouts.
"They're cutting deals, and they're trying to buy votes. They're trying to get aldermen to accept small projects for their vote at the detriment of the entire city. And so that's what's going on," 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale said.
The sticking point for many opponents is the corporate head tax, which would now impact companies with more than 200 employees instead of the mayor's original proposal of 100.
It's expected to raise about $100 million to fund violence prevention programs.
Opponents contend the administration needs to find more cuts first.
"We ask for more cuts, more efficiencies that they have in hand, but they won't produce. So, you know, in reality, I think a lot of aldermen are pretty upset, as the constituents are, that we're playing hide the ball here with the mayor's office," 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack said.
"If you remove $100 million worth of revenue, where do you find? Either $100 million in additional revenue or $100 million in cuts?" Budget Committee Chairman Ald. Jason Ervin said.
Mayoral allies say this is not about picking on corporations, but about picking priorities.
"Look, we want them here in the city of Chicago, and we want them to do business in the city of Chicago. And we want them to have a little bit of skin in the game so that we can facilitate and create the city that we are all proud of," 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes said.
Mayor Johnson is defending his plan.
"We're either going to challenge the corporations and the ultra rich, or we're going to balance this budget off the backs of working people. I've made a commitment not to balance this budget off the backs of working people," Johnson said.
But some alders say, why rush the vote when there is still more work that could be done?
"We really need to make sure that we're taking our time and making the right fiscal decisions for the taxpayers and the future of the city of Chicago," 34th Ward Ald. Bill Conway said.
"I'm for more deliberation if we're actually debating them for something, but to slow it down, just for the sake of slowing it down it just doesn't make sense," Johnson said.
The mayor's team is expected to work through the weekend to muster the support needed to bring the budget up for a vote next Thursday. It could be a matter of winning over just a few alders.