(The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council could approve a new budget with more than $230 million in tax increases before the end of the week.
Before a fire alarm went off in the council chambers Wednesday, postponing city business, aldermen heard public comments from Jessica Jackson.
“The stupidity to think that you all could come with this kind of cut, this kind of recommendation and not come with a true accounting for how much was spent on these illegals,” Jackson said, referring to the tens of thousands of border crossers who have arrived in the city over the past two years.
Amid votes during Chicago’s City Council meeting Wednesday morning, a fire alarmed sounded. This followed public comments that were heating up about a proposed budget with more than $230 million in tax increases. The city council went into recess and had not returned by early afternoon.
The city council plans to meet Friday where they could pass a budget.
An analysis of the proposal shows a property tax increase of nearly $70 million, with annual increases matching the consumer price index. Taxes also would increase on personal property leases for nearly $130 million. Tax increases are proposed on streaming services worth nearly $13 million. Parking taxes are also going up, as is a tax on checkout bags and rideshares.
Cuts include a guaranteed income pilot program that was funded with federal COVID-19 relief tax dollars. That will save the city $74 million. There will also be around $3 million of efficiencies for the city’s fleet management.
On Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he won’t see cuts to services in the budget. He will be going to get revenue from the state and federal government.
“What the city of Chicago is doing is we’re putting our hand up first, we’re jumping to the front of the line and saying that we have to fight for progressive revenue,” Johnson said.
Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state will give the city increased funding for things like K-12 education.
“I’d remind you that every year we’ve increased funding for education all across the state, not just the city of Chicago, all across the state of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters.
At a city budget hearing Tuesday, city resident James McCoy said they’ve had enough.
“And now you want to squeeze the city of more money, higher property taxes, parking fees, as if parking is not outrageous in this city, streaming service taxes, bag taxes, just name it and there’s higher taxes for it,” McCoy said.
The city must pass the plan to spend around $18 billion by the end of the month.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
