Chicago City Council Votes to Recess Meeting without Voting on 2025 Budget

Breaking News

The Chicago City Council will not vote on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget as originally scheduled. Instead, Johnson called for a recess of the council meeting, postponing the budget vote until the meeting resumes on Monday.

Budget Committee Approves Proposal

On Tuesday, the city’s budget committee narrowly approved the budget proposal, which includes several tax increases, with a 17-16 vote. The tie was broken by 4th Ward Alderman Lamont Robinson, who arrived late to cast the deciding vote.

Last-Minute Promises Raise Concerns

Robinson’s support secured the proposal despite concerns from some alderpeople over last-minute promises made to sway votes. One alderperson told FOX 32 Chicago that they doubt the mayor has enough backing to get the budget passed.

Tax Increases Included in Proposal

The budget includes a range of tax increases to generate revenue, including:

• $128 million from cloud computing services
• $68 million from property taxes (a reduction from the original $300 million proposal)
• $11 million from increased parking garage taxes
• Higher taxes on rideshare services, grocery bags, and streaming platforms like Netflix

Property Tax Hike Reduced

Last month, all 50 alderpersons rejected Mayor Johnson’s initial $300 million property tax hike, urging him to focus on budget cuts before raising taxes. This led the mayor to propose a reduced property tax increase.

Conclusion

The future of the 2025 budget remains uncertain as the City Council recesses its meeting without voting on the proposal. The decision to delay the vote may indicate that the mayor is still seeking support from alderpeople to pass the budget. As the situation develops, we will provide updates.

FAQs

Q: Will the Chicago City Council vote on the budget today?

A: No, Mayor Brandon Johnson has called off the vote, and the council will recess until Monday.

Q: What are the tax increases included in the budget proposal?

A: The proposal includes a range of tax increases, including $128 million from cloud computing services, $68 million from property taxes, $11 million from increased parking garage taxes, and higher taxes on rideshare services, grocery bags, and streaming platforms.

Q: What happened to the initial property tax hike proposal?

A: The initial $300 million property tax hike proposal was rejected by all 50 alderpersons, leading Mayor Johnson to propose a reduced property tax increase of $68 million.