Mayor Proposes Corporate Head Tax, Package Tax In $17.6 Billion Budget

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing a $17.6 billion budget that would expand neighborhood services, mental healthcare and youth employment programs while relying on hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes to balance the budget. The spending plan, released Wednesday, calls for $664 million in additional revenue, $131.5 million in new investments and nearly $120 million in cuts. Expanded neighborhood services would include more crews to tackle rat infestations, tree trimming and illegal dumping. The proposed budget also increases funding for the city’s libraries and homeless services, expands the city’s mental health crisis response team, and opens one new mental health clinic. To pay for these investments while closing the city’s $882 million budget deficit, Johnson is once again proposing a corporate head tax, along with increases to taxes on leased software, computer equipment and sports betting. The proposed spending plan does not include a property tax increas