Chicago mayor says businesses must pay, wants progressive revenue from state

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he has had conversations with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state legislative leaders about “progressive revenue.”

The mayor spoke Tuesday at City Hall and cited potential federal funding reductions by President Donald Trump as a reason tax increases are needed.

“I met with the speaker of the House, the Senate president. They know that we’re going to have to do something to stand up to Trump’s cuts,” Johnson said.

The mayor said Pritzker, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak-Park, know they have to stand up.

Johnson said Welch has proposed a “millionaire’s tax,” which was proposed in 2015 and 2016 by Welch’s predecessor as speaker, Michael Madigan. In both instances, the tax proposal failed to clear the Illinois House.

The mayor said he would present a balanced budget for 2026, but corporations receiving tax cuts from Trump enacted legislation would have to put more skin in the game. Johnson said Trump should spend money on the people of Chicago instead of sending funds overseas.

“The fact of the matter is that the president of the United States is spending billions of dollars to secure Argentina while farmers are being undermined by the very investments he’s making in other parts of the world,” Johnson said.

Chicago Flips Red founder Zoe Leigh said there is a reason Chicago has an estimated budget deficit of $1.15 billion.

“In cities like Chicago, sanctuary city policies have drained budgets, displaced citizens and undermined public safety, as millions are spent on housing and benefits for illegal aliens while American residents, especially Black Chicagoans, are ignored,” Leigh said at a separate City Hall press conference Tuesday.

Leigh said it is time for a federal crackdown to clean out the political machine that has corrupted Chicago City Hall.

“Taxpayer funds are being laundered through nonprofits and political contracts while citizens lose housing, safety and voice,” Leigh said, adding that she herself is unhoused.

Chicago’s budget grew from $16.6 billion in 2024 to $17.1 billion this year.

The mayor is expected to present his 2026 budget proposal next week.