Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Republican Party doesn't agree with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's plan to ask the state Legislature for the authority to tax high-end professional services and home sales that are worth more than $1 million.

Chicago Republican Party Chairman Chris Cleveland said Democrats don't know how to run cities.

"It's very simple," Cleveland said in an interview with Chicago City Wire. "If you tax something, you get less of it."

Cleveland said if Lightfoot wants less high-end professional services in Chicago, then she's found the right approach. 

"The minute such a tax goes into effect, the high-end law, consulting and accounting firms will move their headquarters to the suburbs or to other states," Cleveland said. "And every client company that depends on these services will have an incentive to move as well—and take their high-salaried people with them."

Lightfoot wants the power to help dig the city out of $1 billion hole, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The newspaper reported that Lightfoot plans to make her requests during the Legislature's fall veto session.

"This is why Democrat-run cities are in economic decline," Cleveland said. "The Democrats just don't understand how to run a city."

Lightfoot wants to be allowed to raise the real estate transfer tax for the sale of homes valued at more than $1 million in Chicago, as well as taxing other high-end professional services.

The Chicago Sun Times reports that State Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) is "eager to work with " Lightfoot, according to Cullerton's spokesperson, John Patterson.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) also said he was open to talking with the mayor about pensions and fiscal issues, but that he didn't see the Republican caucus embracing either of Lightfoot's concepts, the Chicago Sun Times reported.

"Our caucus believes that we’ve placed enough taxes and fees upon homeowners and businesses large and small throughout the state," Durkin said, according to the newspaper.