CWTA Supports the Mayor's Budget Proposal
Mayor Johnson has sent a proposed budget to the City Council for consideration, and CWTA supports that budget in principle. The Council will hold hearings to suggest changes and must vote on a final budget by the end of December.
CWTA supports a budgeting process that is grounded in providing needed services to working families, and supporting public institutions such as schools, libraries, health facilities, and parks.
The corporate head tax, which is part of the Mayor’s plan for generating much needed revenue for the city, is one component of making sure that there aren’t cuts in services and that regressive taxes such as the property tax won’t be raised.
The proposed corporate head tax is a $21 per-employee, per-month fee on Chicago businesses with over 100 employees. Approximately 3% of businesses will be affected. Mayor Brandon Johnson argues it will enable the city to continue funding public services and address federal cuts.
Corporations benefit from city infrastructure–good schools, a strong economy, public safety, including police and fire, and public transportation, etc.. They have contributed through a corporate head tax in the past and now we need them to do so again. It is important to remember that the city does not have options for other forms of progressive taxation such as a city income tax because the IL General Assembly has not granted the city the authority to tax income, earnings or occupation.
CWTA urges you to contact your alderperson to express your support for the Mayor’s budget, including the implementation of a corporate head tax. You may also want to ask if there will be any public hearings on the budget in your ward or nearby.
Find your alderperson's contact info here - Find Your Ward and Alderman
For more information, here are a few resources:
Mayor Revives Head Tax, Adds Social Media Fee To Avoid Property Tax Hike Under Proposed 2026 Budget
