Johnson proposes $300M property tax increase, breaking campaign promise

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed repeatedly during his campaign he would not raise property taxes on Chicagoans.

Now, just two budget cycles into his first term, he has to go back on that - proposing a $300 million property tax increase.

Under the mayor's proposal, the owner of a $250,000 property would pay $222 more per year. The proposal would cost the owner of a $500,000 property $481 more. The mayor unveiled his 2025 spending plan before the city council on Wednesday, saying he didn't come to the decision lightly.

"It’s tough. It is," Johnson said. "It is something that I grappled with for weeks."

Without the hike, the mayor says he would have to lay off 17% of the city's workforce, including first responders. He says he would have preferred a surcharge on millionaires and a statewide progressive income tax, both of which failed to garner support as voter referendum.

"Here's what we're left with: Do we lay people off and cut services? Or do we make sure our neighbors have jobs and we continue to make critical investments?"

The proposal was hit with a thud, with even longtime mayoral allies saying they couldn't support it yet.

"Property tax increase is a regressive taxation, something we can't afford in communities like ours," said 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez.

"Maybe there's a fair version of this, but I talk to countless residents who can't afford what we're talking about today," said 1st Ward Alderman Daniel LaSpata.

Longtime opponents say they don't like the tax hike and claim that the budget relies on shrinking the Chicago Police Department, eliminating 400 vacant positions.

"He's not listening to the residents, and it's clear that the number one investment that taxpayers want to see on their tax dollar is public safety, and they're already paying for it," said 23rd Ward Alderperson Sylvana Tabares.

The mayor plans to increase spending $530 million over last year and rely on a $131 million one-time TIF surplus to help put it in balance.

It’s now in the hands of the city council, which will hold hearings over the next month or two. Twenty-six votes will be needed to pass the proposal in December.