The city’s budget vote, scheduled for Friday morning, has been delayed until Monday at 1 p.m.
The City Council voted 32-17 to recess the meeting after protests erupted in the chambers. The delay cut off the public comment session, angering many attendees. Now, Mayor Johnson and the council face a tight deadline, with just 15 days to pass a budget before the city risks an unprecedented government shutdown on Dec. 31.
Before the meeting began, Mayor Johnson pulled the vote, acknowledging that his budget plan—which includes a $68.5 million property tax hike and $165.5 million in additional taxes and fees—didn’t have the support to pass, even with his potential tie-breaking vote.
The city has struggled with a $982.4 million budget shortfall for months. Early on, officials floated solutions ranging from layoffs and pay cuts to new fees for garbage collection and video gaming. Johnson, who campaigned on a promise not to raise property taxes, later reversed course to close the gap while vowing to avoid layoffs. Last month, the City Council unanimously rejected his initial proposal for a $300 million property tax increase.
There was hope earlier this week when Johnson’s revised plan, featuring a more minor tax increase, narrowly passed the Budget and Finance Committees. But Friday’s delay raises doubts about whether the council can reach an agreement before the year ends.
The clock is ticking. Without a budget, Chicago faces its first-ever government shutdown, forcing city leaders to scramble for a last-minute solution.
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