1 week Ago By Willie Wilson
After pushback from aldermen, residents and businesses, Mayor Brandon Johnson has signaled a willingness to cut his proposed $346 million property tax increase . However, Johnson has not sworn off a property tax hike completely and at the same time has shown an unwillingness to trim the workforce and cut the fat. This threatens the future viability of Chicago.
Any property tax increase is unacceptable, and the City Council should not approve a budget that contains a property tax increase and cuts to public safety. Property taxes are regressive and disproportionately harm lower-income residents. A Tribune editorial published last month noted that fewer people are paying their property tax bills in Cook County.
In 2025, city taxpayers will be affected by the triennial reassessment being conducted by the Cook County assessor. Additionally, residents could face a property tax hike by Chicago Public Schools to address its projected $500 million budget deficit . Thus, Chicago homeowners and businesses may be facing multiple property tax increases in 2025.
Johnson promised during the campaign not to raise property taxes. The mayor and his allies are tone-deaf to the struggles of homeowners, small-business owners and the working class. Higher property taxes harm businesses and ultimately our citizens.
Businesses will increase prices and cut hiring to ensure they stay within budget. Additionally, high taxes could discourage investors from buying commercial real estate downtown. The vacancy rate in downtown Chicago is 25.
8% . A hiring slowdown hurts city revenues and increases unemployment. In some cases, a business may close and reopen in a tax-friendly state such as Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas or Florida.
Raising taxes drives citizens and businesses out. In 2023, the city lost 8,208 residents. I refuse to purchase gas in Chicago because of the high taxes.
Many citizens including seniors could lose their homes. Landlords will pass along a property tax increase to their renters. Residents across Illinois are struggling with higher expenses, for rent, food, gasoline, insurance and energy costs.
To burden citizens with another tax increase is unconscionable. Especially after the city has spent more than $500 million taking care of migrants from other countries. Johnson’s proposed cuts to the Chicago Police Department budget are unwise.
Public safety in neighborhoods and on public transit continues to be a major concern for Chicago residents. Violent crime at CTA stops and on buses and trains has more than tripled compared with 2015, WBEZ reported. The CPD is down nearly 2,000 sworn police officers.
The lack of police officers has led to crimes not being solved and 911 calls going unanswered. The mayor’s promise to hire 200 more detectives rings hollow. If riders do not feel safe on public transit, they will look for an alternative mode of transportation.
Whenever taxes are raised, there must be shared sacrifice. It is hard to rationalize pay raises for elected officials, city workers and a property tax increase for residents on fixed incomes. As the mayor and his newly appointed school board members negotiate the Chicago Teachers Union’s new contract, they must do so with taxpayers and accountability in mind.
The taxpayers should not be asked to bear the burden of another exorbitant public union contract — while students struggle to read and write at grade level. The following are suggestions for Johnson and the aldermen regarding the budget: Johnson and Chicago aldermen must make cuts in the city’s personnel budget. The cost in personnel is $4.
6 billion. Johnson should renegotiate contracts with labor unions and ask them to forgo pay raises and step increases for 2025. Johnson should request that union and nonunion city personnel take mandatory furlough days and consider layoffs.
Johnson should institute a real hiring freeze, exempting public safety jobs. Johnson must implement a plan to reduce police-related litigation. In 2023, the city paid out more than $81 million to resolve litigation against CPD.
Johnson should examine all contracts and find savings for the taxpayers. Also, bid out all contracts and select the lowest qualified bidder. Johnson and Gov.
JB Pritzker should place on the ballot a referendum question regarding sanctuary status for Chicago and Illinois. Johnson should release a report from his pension working group. The city pensions require a long-term solution.
Johnson and Pritzker should consider cutting taxes to spur economic growth. The people and businesses of Chicago cannot afford another property tax increase or defunding of the police through cuts. Johnson and his budget team must go back and figure out a way to balance the budget without harming residents.
Related Articles Commentary | Editorial: Aldermen must force Mayor Brandon Johnson to find solutions other than a massive property tax hike Commentary | George Cardenas: We need to be honest with taxpayers about what’s driving their property taxes so high Commentary | Will Johnson: Most Chicagoans reject higher city taxes, no matter the purpose. That’s bad news for the mayor. Commentary | Letters: Blunder over school board president calls into question Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fitness The presidential election results should be a clarion call for incumbent elected officials to see that people are angry with the current direction of the country.
The results in Illinois — President-elect Donald Trump received 44% of the vote — should prompt the ruling Illinois Democrats to ask the question: Are they doing enough to help working-class people and senior citizens? The city must prepare for reduced funding from the federal government given the new administration and a Republican Congress. Balancing the budget on the backs of seniors and working-class citizens is a bad idea. I write this commentary to make those comfortable with raising property taxes and cutting funding to law enforcement uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected] .
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