In a unanimous vote Thursday, City Council rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $300 million Chicago property tax increase during the first of several budget hearings, according to multiple reports.
Mayor Johnson introduced the property tax hike last month as a potential solution to Chicago’s projected budget deficit of nearly $1 billion for the upcoming year.
The proposal, however, contradicted a previous campaign pledge in which Johnson promised not to raise property taxes during his 2023 mayoral run.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the proposal’s rejection was expected, as negotiations took place over the weekend to explore alternative measures for addressing the budget shortfall.
These alternative solutions may include allocating federal pandemic relief funds, raising taxes on items such as cigarettes and bottled water, and increasing fees for city services like trash collection.
Earlier reports indicated that Johnson had considered city staff layoffs as another potential cost-cutting measure. It’s currently unclear if layoffs will be included in the final 2025 budget proposal.
City Council will continue budget discussions in the coming weeks. The mayor’s office notes that officials must agree on a budget plan before the year’s end.