Chicagoans embrace millionaire tax
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Chicago voters overwhelmingly approved ballot measures promoting a millionaire tax, a new gunshot detection system, a permanent fairground and seeking federal compensation for Midway Blitz damage.
Why it matters: These enthusiastic answers could help fuel binding legislation on the issues in the future.
For example, voters' 80% approval of the millionaire tax is certain to be mentioned by Mayor Brandon Johnson as he promotes some of the corporate taxes in his latest budget proposal.
- And the 73% approval for a new gunshot detection program could soften the mayor's past opposition to the tech and hasten the process to secure a new system.
By the numbers: Here's where the votes stood Wednesday morning with 1,232 of 1,291 precincts reporting for each question.
Millionaire tax
Yes: 80% No: 20%
"Shall Illinois adopt the Millionaire Amendment for Property Tax Relief and Education, which would enact a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires and use 50% of this new revenue to provide property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers and 50% to improve state funding for public education?"
Zoom in: The tax, applied to income over $1 million, could affect about 41,000 Illinois residents and generate $3.8 billion in its first full year, according to a report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and UIUC.
Yes, but: Opponents warn it could drive businesses and revenue out of the state.
Gunshot detection
Yes: 72% No: 28%
"Should the City of Chicago restart the use of gunshot detection technology that informs first responders when gunshots are detected?"
Flashback: After long battles with the Chicago City Council, Johnson fulfilled his campaign promise to shut down the controversial ShotSpotter program in the fall of 2024. He promised to seek a better solution.
- Some studies suggested the program led to over-policing and false alarms. But a diverse group of alders from the South, West and far Northwest and Southwest sides urged the mayor to keep it until another program was in place.
Reality check: This may already be a moot point. On Oct. 20, after the start of early voting, Johnson's office announced a new pilot program to test an unspecified alternative system in six police districts on the South and West Sides.
Festival space
Yes: 68 % No: 32%
"Should Chicago develop a permanent festival and outdoor event space for large-scale events?"
What they're saying: Supporters say a dedicated site could reduce the need to close parks, shut down streets, cancel softball games and mess up park grass for private shindigs like Lolla and Riot Fest.
- Critics argue that the current system uses existing city assets while bringing revenue and visitors to areas of the city they might not have otherwise visited.
Blitz compensation
Yes: 85% No: 15%
"Shall the City of Chicago pursue all lawful means to recover financial compensation from the federal government for the costs and economic harm caused by the Donald Trump administration's violent, militarized ICE operations, including the Midway Blitz operation led by Greg Bovino, to recover lost tax revenue, public safety response costs, and services provided to residents and families affected by those operations?"
Zoom in: One study by UIC's Great Cities Institute suggests Chicago area businesses lost $1.2 billion in revenue during the 2025 immigration crackdown.
Between the lines: It's unclear how the city would secure millions in compensation in a climate that hasn't seen a prosecution of a federal agent. No federal agent has been prosecuted for the shooting, killing, beating, tear-gassing and apprehension of locals during Midway Blitz.