Overview
- The City Council Finance Committee rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s revenue package this week, stalling his $16.6 billion spending plan.
- Johnson continues to press a roughly $21-per-employee monthly head tax despite opposition from business groups and a bloc of at least 25 aldermen.
- He introduced an online portal for aldermen to submit savings and efficiency ideas, while ruling out layoffs and furloughs as union leaders warn staffing is already lean.
- Finance Chair Pat Dowell is leading work on an alternative budget reportedly excluding a head tax, with input from civic, business and labor representatives.
- A $3.2 million EY review flagged up to $1.3 billion in possible savings but found few options both feasible and high impact, and failure to pass a budget by Dec. 31 could disrupt services and harm Chicago’s credit as the council next meets Dec. 10.