Mayor Johnson struggles to finalize Chicago budget by Friday deadline
- City leaders have just over three weeks to pass a new budget to avoid a city shutdown.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration is proposing several tax hikes to raise $37 million in revenue.
- There is a split among city officials regarding budget cuts and the potential for a city shutdown before the December 31 deadline.
Chicago is facing a critical deadline as city leaders have just over three weeks to pass a new budget to avoid a potential shutdown. Under Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, the proposed budget includes tax hikes, specifically targeting property taxes, cable and streaming services, city garage taxes, and ride-hailing services, aiming to raise approximately $37 million in new revenue. City officials, including Alderman Conway, have expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for job cuts and budget reductions before agreeing to any tax increases. The city's Finance Committee is expected to review the budget proposal on Tuesday morning, with plans to push for an operational budget by the end of the week. Many city officials are split on whether they can meet this timeline due to differing opinions on resource allocation and the balance of revenue generation. In the backdrop of the budgetary discussions, an unrelated investigation into an employee, Jason Lee, is ongoing concerning his voting eligibility, raising additional questions about residency and accountability within city management. Despite some disagreements among the alders, there seems to be a general consensus that a city shutdown can be averted by the December 31 deadline, with the city leaders actively seeking innovative solutions to generate revenue while addressing concerns about taxpayer sentiment regarding increased taxes.