Alders ready to nix Johnson's property tax hike
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Council members argue with Mayor Brandon Johnson at a meeting this year. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Alders are expected to vote Thursday to reject Mayor Brandon Johnson's $300 million property tax hike, aimed at closing a $1 billion gap in the city's budget.
Why it matters: The hike would boost taxes by 4.8% — raising them, for example, $318 on a $350,000 Chicago home — at a time when many have watched property taxes double over the last decade.
- The mayor campaigned on a promise to avoid property tax increases.
Catch up fast: The mayor proposed the hike in his $17.3 billion budget last month, and had shown little interest in budging until alders announced they'd be holding the vote this week.
What they're saying: "It's time to reject the property tax increase ASAP, so we can negotiate a real budget that actually has a prayer of passing before the end of 2024," downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly said on social media.
The other side: "I will be at the meeting to watch some great political theater with no work accomplished for Chicagoans," South Side Ald. William Hall, who supported the mayor's tax hike, tells Axios.
The middle: "I believe there is a budget we can pass grounded in compromise and collaboration," Logan Square Ald. Daniel La Spata wrote in his latest newsletter. "And my office is working on many revenue alternatives and efficiencies to avoid the proposed property tax increase."
Zoom in: Some alders and the non-partisan Civic Federation have proposed city worker furloughs, staff cuts and forgoing this year's supplemental pension payment.
- At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Johnson rejected all of those ideas but stopped short of opposing hikes on regressive taxes and fees that could disproportionately affect low-income people.
The intrigue: The disconnect between the mayor and most alders was on full display Tuesday when Johnson called himself "the most collaborative mayor" in Chicago's history while several alders told Axios the mayor hasn't had a single discussion with them about the budget yet.
- Bucktown Ald. Scott Waguespack said, "I've never seen it this bad."
What's next: If the council does bury the property tax hike, get ready for hot debates on other unpopular taxes.