CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson remains steadfast in his pursuit of implementing a head tax, despite its recent rejection by a Chicago City Council committee. Meanwhile, alderpersons opposing the tax are dedicating the upcoming weeks to identifying alternative solutions.
Several council members emphasize that before targeting businesses to address the budget shortfall, the mayor should first seek cost-saving measures within City Hall itself.
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“If I were in the mayor’s position, I would deploy an audit team to scrutinize procurement over the next several weeks and uncover potential savings,” stated 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack.
Waguespack, who previously chaired the Finance Committee, mentioned that he and fellow alderpersons resistant to the head tax have been diligently reviewing the budget. They are formulating strategies to offset the $100 million revenue the mayor anticipates from the proposed tax. Suggestions include trimming expenses in procurement contracts and improving fleet management efficiency.
“According to E & Y, the average city vehicle is driven only 7,000 miles annually,” noted 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway.
Though confident in their ability to demonstrate $100 million in efficiencies that won’t burden taxpayers, Budget Committee Chairman Jason Ervin remains skeptical about these efforts.
“The only way you get from where we are today to $100 million less is to make cuts to vital services that we know that city residents need and deserve,” Ervin said.
Ervin, the mayor, and his allies are trying to present a narrative that without a head tax, cuts to city services, specifically public safety, and layoffs are the only options. Some outside groups, such as the Black Matters Voters Fund, are trying to tie alderpersons opposed to the head tax as defenders of billionaires and President Donald Trump.
“You are either support working people, or you are going to support corporations; that is what this budget it about,” Johnson said.
“I think it’s a false narrative to cast our budget in that way,” said Finance Committee Chairman Ald. Pat Dowell.
The mayor’s handpicked finance committee chairman adamantly opposes the head tax, arguing it will kill jobs and push businesses away from Chicago. She says the mayor must meet alderpersons in the middle.
“We have to look at ways that we can be more gray, not black and white. That is government,” Dowell said.
While alderpersons come up with alternatives, the mayor will spend the next few weeks possibly tweaking his head tax proposal to change some “no” votes to ‘yes” votes. Johnson needs 26 votes, or 25, if he wants to be the tiebreaker.
