Chicago City Council considers Mayor Brandon Johnson's new $150M property tax hike proposal
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A major compromise is in the works to cut in half Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed $300 million property tax hike.
Some aldermen are hoping they can reduce it even further.
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If the mayor was looking to further build rapport with Council members who last week voted down his initial property tax hike 50-0, his scolding of some Tuesday probably isn't going to help.
Still, for home and condo owners, things seem to be moving in the right direction.
Johnson announced a budget breakthrough Tuesday, saying he is humbled and grateful for the ideas that made it possible.
"We have reduced the property tax levy by $150 million, and we hope this productive collaboration pushes us to find more progressive revenue sources and more efficiencies that will balance our budget," he said.
But even a property tax hike reduced to $150 million is still too much for some alders.
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"We want to go down to $100 million. In a perfect world, it'll be none; that's where we want to be. But, we also don't want to go to fines and fees because all you're doing is kicking it back to the taxpayers. So, we're looking at efficiencies and enforcement," 20th Ward Ald. Jeanette Taylor said.
There appears to be agreement to tax cloud storage services. That would raise $128 million.
Aldermen also agree to hike fees on streaming services to raises another $9 to $10 million.
"Where there's no fiscal responsibility, we will provide it, and that's got to be the bottom line. We can't allow this mayor and his team to drive this city into the ground financially or by reputation, and that's what's happening right now," 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack said.
But, as budget hearings continue, some alders have been publicly critical of the negotiation process.
The mayor fired back without naming names.
"Some of the steps and measures that are being taken, these are some individuals are having tantrums right now. It's time to grow up. People in Chicago don't have time for that," Johnson said.
"When you have people from the mayor's office saying the mayor's not gonna get cut out of the narrative, we've gotta make sure he's driving the bus. That's not collaboration. That's trying to take ownership. We are a co-equal branch of government," 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez said.
"And I think, as long as we have an open line of communication, I think we have a responsibility to get to an agreement," 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez said.
The mayor expressed confidence that a balanced budget can be worked out before the deadline at the end of the year. But, he would not say if he thinks a property tax hike could be completely eliminated.
