Chicago City Council approves Mayor Lori Lightfoot's $16.4B budget
18 aldermen voted against the budget, which would not increase property taxes.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- During an election year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot designed her budget, without a property tax increase, to be an easy one to pass.
Yet, 18 aldermen voted against it.
"What this budget passage makes claim, no matter what the challenges is no matter what they challenges or adversity we face, we address them," Lightfoot said.
WATCH: Lightfoot speaks after council approves budget
The $16.4 billion budget includes more spending for affordable housing, homelessness, infrastructure and public safety.
"Throughout this budget, we have committed $100 million for officers and the department with new technologies, including more cameras, license plate reader, cell phones, new vehicles," Lightfoot said.
But, some aldermen complained the police budget doesn't add enough new positions. Others who voted against it said the budget invests in programs that fail to show a return on the city's investment.
"So what to do we have to show for the CTA investment, a system plagued by service disruptions, delays crown and filth?" said Ald. Brendan Reilly, who represents the city's 42nd Ward.
Progressive aldermen are angry that the budget does not include some of Lightfoot's campaign promises.
"They were promised we would bring back the Department of Environment. They were promised to reopen mental health clinics," said Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who represents the city's 35th Ward.
The mayor said her budget put the city back on sound financial footing, including paying down the debt, which is she said contributed to a ratings upgrade
"This is the first upgrade Fitch has ever made to Chicago due to improved financial improvements in nearly 25 years of rating the city," Lightfoot said.
