Manifolds, Manolos, and Manure
Located within the confines of Cook County, Chicago boasts a population of just over 2.6 million residents. Cook County on the other hand is home to slightly more than 5 million residents. Both Chicago and Cook County are in the midst of a population decline.
Chicago and its financial situation have a tremendous impact on the entire county. In early November, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called for a $300 million property tax increase to balance the city’s budget. Under his proposal, the average homeowner would likely see a 4.8 percent tax increase.
The mayor’s proposal broke his campaign promise and empowered aldermen to wrestle the budget process back from the mayor who has traditionally controlled and directed the entire process. In a rare 50-0 vote, aldermen voted overwhelmingly against the $300 million property tax increase. The mayor took the vote in stride calling it all part of a healthy process.
Perhaps the vote was more than just part of the budget process and instead signaled a much deeper issue. According to veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman, the vote may mean that alderman felt empowered to reclaim the budget process as the mayor’s approval ratings lag.
According to a November poll conducted by Change Research, 15 percent of those surveyed felt favorable towards the mayor. Governor Pritzker on the other hand had a 62 percent favorable rating. In the same poll, 54 percent of respondents felt that if their aldermen supported a $150 million property tax increase without prioritizing other options to balance the city budget that they would be much more likely to vote for another candidate. Sixty-six percent of those responding indicated that the mayor was irresponsibly managing Chicago’s budget-making process rather than working with the city council to find other solutions. Of those responding to Change Research’s poll 42 percent identify as strong Democrats. Overall, 70 percent of those responding identified as Democrat.
Also included in the mayor’s budget proposal is $82.6 billion for Chicago Police Department settlements and court claims. The amount is the same amount that former Mayor Lori Lightfoot used in 2019. However, the amount that the city actually spends is much higher, which critics argue is not transparent budgeting or a balanced budget.
Furthering the situation, is a proposed 45 percent cut to the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform. While the mayor has said on the record that he is unwilling to lay off employees, under his proposal for this office 37 employees will lose their jobs. The cuts also stymie what progress that’s been made on court-ordered consent decree compliance. These employees are directly responsible for compliance. Numerous Chicago civic leaders have sent letters to the mayor expressing their concerns with his proposal.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul voiced his concerns with the mayor’s proposal, “I must remind you that the consent decree is not optional,” Raoul wrote to the mayor. “The City of Chicago must deliver on its consent decree obligations.” (WTTW, In Five Years, Chicago Has Barely Made Progress on its Court-Ordered Police Reforms. Here’s Why. 11/20/2024)
Returning to the Change Research poll for a moment, 45 percent of respondents believe that the city council should take over the budget process if necessary to avoid a shutdown and protect their constituents. Numerous alternatives to a property tax have surfaced. Maintain current youth employment levels rather than adding 2,000 jobs. Scale back staffing to 2020 levels. Increase permit fees for private dumpsters. Tax hemp products. Increased fees on large scale events. Merging redundant programs operated by the county and city like the department of public health or board of elections. And ending pandemic-era programs. As a reminder, a majority of those responding to the poll identified as Democrats and 39 percent of them claim they voted for the mayor in the April 2023 runoff election and 72 percent voted for President Joe Biden in 2020.
On the note of elections, the mayor’s race is still several years out but numerous names have surfaced as potential challengers for the mayor. On the list are Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Congressman Mike Quigley, state Representative Kam Buckner, City Clerk Anna Valencia, former Inspector General Joe Ferguson, and city council members Brian Hopkins (2nd), Silvana Tabares (23rd), Bill Conway (34th), Gil Villegas (36th), and Brendan Reilly (42nd).
While policing and the Chicago budget and budget process aren’t farming, they do impact Farm Bureau members and Chicago residents. All of which are of interest and important to the Farm Bureau.