Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will withdraw a proposal to increase property taxes by $300 million to balance the budget. After assessing the situation, the mayor announced that he is negotiating to reduce that amount.
“Do Chicagoans need to know that I’m serious about addressing this? Absolutely, I’m serious about it. Absolutely. That’s why we put the proposal forward. And that’s why we’re not dictating the outcome and the success of this budget. Again, it’s a collaborative approach. I’m going to continue to lead in that way,” Johnson said.
The announcement came after a majority of aldermen at a special meeting of the city council threatened to reject the tax increase.
The mayor’s administration is currently negotiating with aldermen on alternative ways to raise the $300 million – the mayor says all options are on the table, including a smaller tax increase or no increase at all. The only thing that is not an option is layoffs or furloughs for city workers, leaving aldermen to seek other solutions to the tax problem.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
“There was talk about property taxes, personal property rental taxes. That’s a tax on technology companies that rent space in the ‘cloud’. There are also talks about taxes on cigarettes and cigars, as well as plastic, among other things. There are also talks about ARPA funds,” said Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th ward).
“There was talk, for example, about Delta-8, and maybe that could be taxed in the form of drinks or other products, parking taxes, garbage fees that are mentioned. There’s a lot.
hat worries me is that some of our colleagues think that postponing or reducing pension contributions is a good idea. That’s fundamentally irresponsible thinking,” added Alderman Andre Vasquez (40th ward).
Vasquez referred to the additional pension contribution that the city has been making for several years to avoid bankruptcy of those funds, something that, according to the mayor, cannot be reduced in this budget either.
READ MORE:
Source: Fox 32 Chicago
Photo: Printscreen X