Chicago City Wire

The Chicago City Council has greenlighted Mayor Brandon Johnson's inaugural budget, totalling $16.77 billion, this week in a 41-8 vote. Johnson's budget plans to stabilize property taxes while boosting funds for mental health services, violence prevention initiatives, and earmarking $150 million for housing and social support for incoming asylum seekers in the city.

“I am proud to pass the People’s Budget – a budget based on our values that is not balanced on the backs of working people and working families,” Mayor Johnson said according to a press release. “I have long said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“From making historic investments in our young people to making critical investments in mental health care and public safety, this budget is close to the heart and soul of who we are, and what we represent as a city.”

Amongst the City Council members present during the vote, Alderpeople Anthony Beale, Marty Quinn, Ray Lopez, David Moore, Silvana Tabares, Scott Waguespack, Brendan Reilly and Jim Gardiner voted against the budget according to CBS News.

Moving further into specifics of the spending plan, Johnson's budget also includes $1.8 million to re-open the city's Department of Environment which was eliminated by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel according to Block Club Chicago.

In terms of remuneration for those within local government, the mayor and 48 aldermen are set to receive 2.24% pay increases while Alderpeople Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanches declined the pay raise according to WBEZ.

Addressing potential financial deficits, The Johnson administration filled a $538 million budget shortfall by tapping nearly $434 million in tax increment finance district — including an additional $50 million in 2022 surplus funds according to a report from ABC 7 Chicago.

From the private sector, The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce praised the mayor's first budget for holding the line on taxes.

"At a time when Chicago businesses are already facing many challenges, we commend Mayor Brandon Johnson for introducing a fiscally sound budget that recognizes the headwinds facing Chicago’s economy and doesn’t add to the existing burden on businesses," the business group said in a statement. "We appreciate the Mayor eliminating the automatic property tax increase based on inflation, going beyond the state-mandated minimum pension payment, and seeking sizable operational efficiencies before increasing taxes on inflation-weary residents and businesses."