Chicago mayor still sees chance for compromise on alternative budget; full Council could vote Sat.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson said Thursday he still sees the chance for compromise on an alternative budget that the full City Council will consider in the days ahead.

But the big remaining sticking point centers on the plan to pursue $90 million in outstanding debt.

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The indications now are pointing to a vote on the budget coming during Saturday's City Council meeting. Even though the alternative budget plan has passed out of both the Finance and the Budget committees, procedural moves are delaying that vote.

The mayor is still trying to work on some last-minute compromises.

The City Council met again Thursday without a resolution to the budget standoff.

A group of alders led the charge on the alternative budget. They're ready to move ahead with a vote this weekend.

"We're looking to move a package that's thoughtful for the city of Chicago and get it done so that we don't have a shutdown," 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent said.

"We're happy that we've continued to build coalition, got the majority of City Council, and we feel good about the coalition that is standing with us," 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee said.

Mayor Johnson, having lost his original budget line in the sand over the corporate head tax, is now drawing a new one over plans in the alternative budget to replace that revenue by selling off outstanding city debt.

"Here's what I'm weighing right now: a budget that essentially would be balanced with going after working people and poor people with harassment around debt collection," Johnson said.

"During yesterday's budget hearing, the mayor's own team admitted that there are lots and lots of corporations that owe the city a whole bunch of money, too. So this doesn't have to be about picking on the little guy. There's a lot of folks out there that owe us lots of money that can certainly afford to pay. They've chosen not to," 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly said.

RELATED: Alternative to Mayor Johnson's budget plan approved by City Council Budget Committee

The mayor's budget team claims the alternative revenue plan is short by $163 million. Supporters claim it's balanced.

"Remember, this budget includes 98.4% of the mayor's proposal. We took a look at adjusting 1.6(%) to make sure that we're not impacting the business and the momentum we have as a city. The number they talked about, the 160 million, accounts for 1%," 36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas said.

The mayor is carefully weighing a possible veto, while still hoping for last-minute concessions.

"We're not going to allow this budget process to move forward with make believe," Johnson said. "Now, in terms of veto, if I find this budget to be irresponsible and unbalanced, you know, then it leaves me with very few options, quite frankly."

The mayor and his team insist they are still in negotiations with the other side, and that there could be last-minute amendments to the debt collection plan. But sources connected to the alternative alders coalition said there are no negotiations, and they are moving ahead with what has passed out of the Budget and Finance committees.

The alternative budget being forged by alders calls for raising a plastic bag shopping fee from 10 to 15 cents and includes a pilot program that would place advertising on bridge houses and light poles. It also includes youth jobs.

There is a Jan. 1 deadline to avert the first municipal shutdown.

It appears Council will be working right up to the holiday with meetings scheduled the rest of this week and into next week.