Councilors are concerned about the impact of Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget proposal, a $300 million property tax increase in Chicago, on residents

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson calls for an increase in property taxes to prevent mass layoffs across the city.

The mayor is proposing a $17 billion spending package for 2025.

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It calls for millions of dollars to be invested in violence prevention, jobs for young people and tackling homelessness.

But it is the proposed tax increase that makes many councilors wary.

The property tax increase totals $300 million. The mayor said it was a difficult decision, but he said it is a better choice than the estimated 4,000 layoffs that would be necessary without it.

“We are going to build on the progress we have made, even in a difficult budget year we will not stop investing in our city,” Johnson said.

But the mayor’s budget proposal will require a greater investment from homeowners, with his plan to increase property taxes by 4%. And that’s on top of recent assessments that have already increased taxes.

“This was the best option I have at this time. It allows us to move forward in a sustainable way,” Johnson said.

The mayor’s plan is received very coolly by councilors who are concerned about the consequences for their residents.

“Again, it’s not a starter for me at this point. The devil is in the details, but right now, just taking the government’s path of least resistance, saying we need more money, is a non-starter. said Ald. Gilbert Villegas.

‘I am honest with the mayor. I had this conversation with him over three weeks ago, before we knew there would be a property tax increase in the budget. me, mayor,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins.

The mayor broke a campaign promise not to raise property taxes, but he claimed it was the only way to avoid cutting 4,000 jobs citywide, more than half of them in police.

“I don’t think my neighbors necessarily want to see that, and I don’t think my colleagues necessarily want to see that, so you know, there are no easy solutions right now,” said Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa.

“We all have problems and the solutions are, we need to sit down and really think about where we can find additional resources and money, and not really, you know, hit our constituents and the people who pay taxes,” Ald. said. Monique Scott.

“Look, the end goal is really to make sure we don’t lay people off,” Johnson said.

But the mayor is calling for the elimination of more than 700 vacancies to save money.

Some councilors called it a mistake to skip the automatic property tax increase last year. The mayor rejected that idea and focused on what lay ahead.

“You know, this is the beginning of an open process that I look forward to engaging with all of our city council members and the community at large,” Johnson said.

The mayor needs 26 votes, and he may still have some convincing ahead of him, based on council members’ early response.

Community budget hearings begin next week.