Chicago City Council revises alternative budget proposal, mayor defends head tax as deadline looms
Young residents rally against proposed budget cuts to youth jobs program
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A majority of the Chicago City Council introduced an alternative budget proposal on Wednesday and scheduled a series of meetings over the next two weeks to pass a budget before Christmas.
However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing back and vows to keep fighting for his plan and his controversial corporate head tax.
Young people ABC7 talked to on Wednesday said the new proposed budget could threaten to take away the opportunities, they say, have made the city safer.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Earlier this week, Mayor Johnson called the bluff of his opponents and challenged them to put their plan on the table. On Wednesday, they served it up, putting him on notice it's time to negotiate.
The corporate head tax, that takes aim at 175 of the largest companies in the city, remains one of the central sticking points for the opposition alders. It's one of many concerns addressed in the 78-page revised revenue ordinance they filed Wednesday.
"Our amendments follow our core principles, no borrowing for operating expenses, no shorting our pension obligations, no job killing head tax and a commitment to real structural efficiencies that prevent long term harm," said Ald. Nicole Lee, Budget Committee Vice Chair.
The garbage collection fee, now $9.50 a month, would only be raised to $15 per month, instead of the original proposal to raise it to $18.
"We were told time and time again to put something up in the board, and we have at this point, and we know that there's still a lot of work to do," Ald. Lee said.
Mayor Johnson says he'll veto any budget with higher garbage fees.
"I don't support a budget that places such an incredible burden on working people," Johnson said.
READ MORE | Chicago budget discussions reach stalemate, raising possibility of 1st-ever city government shutdown
Currently, 27 alders have signed on in support of the alternate revenue plan, the same number it took to pass last year's budget. However, they need 34 to prevent a mayoral veto.
"We're going to continue to work with our colleagues to get that number as high as we can, if the mayor goes for a veto that's on him, then he's going to be the one, you know, driving this city toward the fiscal cliff," 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack said.
Mayor Johnson is pushing back, saying his door is always open, but he's adamant about his head tax, which will fund community safety programs and summer youth jobs.
"The door is always open, but the goal is to make sure that we're passing a budget that's balanced, but it also has to challenge our efforts to ensure that we are driving violence down in this city, and that's ultimately what we are challenging corporations to help us do collectively," Johnson said.
Chicago's youth took their Christmas wish list straight to City Hall Wednesday night. The list was intended for the alderpersons behind the alternative budget proposal that some young people say threatens to take away more than 5,000 summer jobs.
"We refuse to be ignored. We refuse to let our opportunities be cut," said Isabella Garcia with Palenque LSNA.
The youth activists say the alternative budget and new curfew ordinance are not the solutions to violence.
"These Alders want to stunt youth growth and they would rather give you a curfew, instead of jobs," said Miracle Boyd with People's Unity Platform. "We have made so much progress on youth jobs and are coming off one of the safest summers in Chicago since 1965. We simply cannot afford to roll back our efforts."
The new revenue proposal is expected to undergo changes before it's brought up for a vote.
The council has scheduled five City Council meetings through Dec. 23, including four next week, to make sure they have plenty of opportunities for budget votes.
