chicago Mayor’s Revenue Plan Faces Setback as Finance Committee Rejects Budget
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget faced a significant hurdle Thursday as the City Council Finance Committee voted down his revenue plan, which included a controversial head tax. The defeat throws the budget process into uncertainty and pushes a final vote until after the Thanksgiving holiday.
The rejected plan centered on increasing taxes on corporations and high-income earners to fund city services, while avoiding taxes on essential goods and services. Johnson has repeatedly stated his opposition to taxes on groceries, garbage collection, or property, and has vowed to veto any budget including them. ”We challenge these big corporations and the ultra-rich to put more skin in the game.Or you ask people who are getting in line for bread, milk and food and clothing, ask them to put more skin in the game,” Johnson said.
The committee’s rejection signals growing opposition within the Council,emboldened by last year’s prosperous effort to block a property tax increase. Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th Ward) criticized the delay tactics employed during the meeting, stating, “can we get this vote done now? can we get to my colleague’s motion? This is a joke.they’re calling people out ther right now to delay this.”
Despite the setback, Johnson remains firm in his commitment to the core principles of his budget. “The corporate tax is in this budget; it will stay in this budget. Is that clear enough?” he asserted.
ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) characterized the budget as a “campaign budget that’s going to be focused on taxing the billionaires and people paying their fair share,” and described last-minute negotiations as evidence of the budget’s weaknesses.
The mayor’s chief advisor, Jason Lee, was observed attempting to secure last-minute support for the revenue plan before the vote, and drew criticism for his actions during the proceedings.
Ald. Ray Lopez expressed skepticism about the city’s spending efficiency, suggesting that further negotiation could reveal additional savings. Johnson has called on opponents to propose specific cuts to the budget.