Chicago mayor on budget shortfall: We don’t want to cut any services

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday said he doesn’t want to cut municipal services but said tough decisions must be made to shore up the city’s finances.

“I’ve made that very clear,” Johnson said at a morning unveiling of the refurbished Little Village Arch ahead of Mexican Independence Day. “I’ve been an organizer, I’ve been an elected official and I know the damage that has been done over the course of bad decisions. But as a city, we have to be prudent and fiscally responsible in this moment.”

The city is currently facing a nearly $225 million deficit that is expected to go up to about $1 billion next year . The mayor’s budget office on Monday released a statement announcing the enactment of a series of budgetary restrictions , including a pause on new hires. Limitations on non-essential travel for employees would also be implemented, as would overtime cuts in areas outside of public safety.

Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward) agreed with the mayor, saying that vital programs should remain available for Chicagoans while financial matters are resolved. And while he acknowledged the city’s serious fiscal challenges, he said he opposes using a property tax increase to close the hole. Instead, Sigcho Lopez said a statewide referendum question on the November ballot could provide the revenue boost the city needs.

“We need to make sure the city funding does not neglect critical services like mental health, education, housing and many other services,” he said. “Tax millionaires that make more than $1 million. Three percent will generate again approximately $3 billion for the city and state which will be important to pay pensions and other important shortages.”

The president of Chicago’s firefighters union expressed concern Wednesday over the impact the city’s imposed hiring freeze would have on a department that he says is overworked and understaffed.

“Why would you continue to overwork police and fire and cancel our days off? You’re not helping the problem you’re making it worse,” said Pat Cleary, president of Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. “Police and fire – we’re both crucial to the safety of the citizens.”

Chicago’s budget director clarified Wednesday that the citywide hiring freeze would not include the city’s police and fire departments, the Chicago Sun-Times reported .

It remains unclear whether the hiring freeze will continue through next year or if further budgetary restrictions will be implemented. Johnson has until the end of the year to fill this year’s budget.

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