Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson revised his property tax proposal from $300 million to $150 million in an attempt to secure City Council support for his $17.3 billion budget proposal.

Johnson’s change comes after lengthy discussions with city Budget Director Annette Guzman and Senior Advisor Jason Lee, who spent Friday night and Saturday negotiating with council members, Crain said. reported. However, the proposal remains criticized, with some council members not convinced this concession goes far enough to ease financial pressure on residents.

The Progressive Caucus, a 19-member voting bloc, opposed the mayor’s proposal for a 4 percent property tax increase to help cover a $982 million budget shortfall. Johnson has met with caucus leaders to discuss possible adjustments without committing to further cuts.

However, opposition leaders like Councilwoman Maria Hadden show no signs of backing down.

“There is nothing wrong with rejecting this property tax, so I will vote against it,” Hadden said.

Others are exploring alternative revenues, including a possible tax on Delta 8 and other hemp products. A “street tax” on private garbage haulers is also being considered. Those measures could distribute the tax burden more equitably while generating additional revenue, said Councilman Andre Vásquez.

Beyond the new taxes, some council members support raising the city’s garbage collection fee, which covers only 41 percent of the costs.

Increases in other fees, such as those on plastic bags and water bottles, could provide about $200 million, Hadden said.

An additional point of contention is the city’s $272 million supplemental pension payment. Although some council members have suggested reallocating a portion of the amount, city Finance Director Jill Jaworski has warned against such cuts because they could lead to a credit rating downgrade, increasing future borrowing costs.

“This is the amount we need to stay afloat and not get worse,” he said.

—Andrew Terrell

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