Posted on 09/01/2020 7:50:34 AM PDT by SJackson
Citing ’catastrophic collapse’ of economy, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago faces $1.2 billion shortfall in 2021 ’pandemic budget’
Citing the “catastrophic collapse of our local and national economy” because of COVID-19 and damage to local businesses from civil unrest, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday laid out a $1.2 billion shortfall for what she called Chicago’s “pandemic budget” in 2021.
Filling the historic deficit will likely require personnel cuts and could lead to layoffs, and the mayor promised to use a TIF surplus and consider a computer lease tax as other potential measures. Lightfoot made no mention of a possible property tax hike in her remarks.
Asked afterward for specifics about cuts or taxes, Lightfoot said that “all options are on the table,” though property taxes and job cuts are at the back of her list.
“The reality is that life will be different for the foreseeable future, impacting how services are provided and how departments are structured, and we must adjust to meet that reality,” Lightfoot said in an afternoon speech at the Cultural Center.
“A very difficult part of reimagining government will also include looking to our workforce, and making needed changes in places that are not being fully utilized during the remainder of this crisis and in our post-COVID-19 world,” she said.
Lightfoot largely avoided discussion about the city’s rising pension costs, aside from calling for state lawmakers to work together and solve the problem. But alluding to the issue, Lightfoot pushed back against Republican critics who say the federal government shouldn’t help blue cities and states such as Chicago and Illinois because their budget woes are “a result of years of mismanagement.”
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Just jack up the taxes on all your ultra-lib friends in Kenwood and Hyde Park to pay for it.
A yes vote on the Pritkzer “Fair Tax” also means they can at a later date tax your pensions WITHOUT your vote.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/fair-tax-paves-the-way-to-taxing-retirement-income-in-illinois/
My take is that the dyke is arguing fpr a Pelosi payout contained within the Covid bill offer currently on the table and rejected by the Republicans
The President has said he will not allow the bailout of Democrat local governments totally mismanaged.
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