Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing forward with his plan to finalize the 2026 proposed budget by Thanksgiving despite strong opposition from Finance Chair Pat Dowell. Dowell's stance against a corporate head tax at "any level" has dealt a significant blow to Johnson's initiative, which aims to raise revenue through a $21 per-month-per-employee tax on companies with 200 or more employees.
The proposal has faced resistance from both sides of the aisle, with Gov. JB Pritzker, business leaders, and their allies joining forces to oppose it. Dowell, who is part of Johnson's leadership team, expressed her opposition to the head tax, calling it "a tax on jobs." She indicated that she would engage in further conversations about the budget but refused to commit to backing the proposal.
Despite the challenges, Johnson remains resolute and open to alternative revenue ideas. He has challenged Dowell and other critics to present their own proposals, suggesting that there may be room for compromise. However, it appears that any major concessions will need to come from his side.
The pressure is mounting, with the budget process already underway since April. If Johnson fails to secure a vote before Thanksgiving, Chicago could face another round of budget stalemates reminiscent of last year's crisis. A Finance Committee defeat would give opponents ample ammunition to portray head tax supporters as champions of wealthy corporations.
For Johnson, the stakes are high. He has framed the debate around a choice between challenging large corporations to contribute more or increasing taxes on working people. The mayor emphasized that his goal is not to create divisions but to "challenge the ultra-rich" to pay their fair share.
The proposal has faced resistance from both sides of the aisle, with Gov. JB Pritzker, business leaders, and their allies joining forces to oppose it. Dowell, who is part of Johnson's leadership team, expressed her opposition to the head tax, calling it "a tax on jobs." She indicated that she would engage in further conversations about the budget but refused to commit to backing the proposal.
Despite the challenges, Johnson remains resolute and open to alternative revenue ideas. He has challenged Dowell and other critics to present their own proposals, suggesting that there may be room for compromise. However, it appears that any major concessions will need to come from his side.
The pressure is mounting, with the budget process already underway since April. If Johnson fails to secure a vote before Thanksgiving, Chicago could face another round of budget stalemates reminiscent of last year's crisis. A Finance Committee defeat would give opponents ample ammunition to portray head tax supporters as champions of wealthy corporations.
For Johnson, the stakes are high. He has framed the debate around a choice between challenging large corporations to contribute more or increasing taxes on working people. The mayor emphasized that his goal is not to create divisions but to "challenge the ultra-rich" to pay their fair share.
Like, I get it, corporations hate paying taxes and all, but come on, the city's gonna run out of cash if they don't figure something out! 
The head tax might not be perfect, but it's better than nothing. And Dowell's "tax on jobs" line is just a bunch of corporate-speak, IMHO 
. I'm all for trying to find common ground, but at this point, I think the city needs a more concrete solution ASAP 
. Can't we just get some basic infrastructure done around here?! 
. People are gonna be all over him on both sides of the aisle, and it's hard to make progress when you got so many strong opinions against you. Dowell's stance is legit, though - we don't want no tax that's just gonna hurt small businesses or people trying to get by. The mayor's gotta find a middle ground, but it's not easy when everyone's digging in their heels 
. And let's be real, if this thing stalls out again like last year, it's gonna be a mess 
. The mayor needs to stay calm and figure out what's really going on here - does the city just wanna raise taxes on corporations or work with them to find some new revenue streams? It's time to get real about our financial priorities 
. I feel bad for pat dowell too, she's got a lot of weight on her shoulders trying to balance the city's books. but at the same time, i think brandon johnson needs to be more flexible, like, what if they implement something that isn't so extreme, you know? a $21 monthly tax might sound bad, but it could be worth it if it means more resources for schools and hospitals 
. it's all about finding that middle ground, i guess 
, maybe there's a sweet spot somewhere? But if they can't come together on this, it's gonna be another long budget season 
. I'm all for fairness in taxation, even if it means ruffling some feathers 
. Can we just get that budget done before Thanksgiving already? 
It feels like a classic "we'll take from the rich" approach, which is kinda true, but come on, won't he think about the ripple effect? 
I MEAN, IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY, BUT COME ON, WE NEED THOSE EXTRA FUNDINGS FOR OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES!!! 
. i get where the finance chair is coming from, but c'mon, 21 bucks a month per employee can't be that bad for big corps, right? 
.
But I think Brandon Johnson is trying to do something positive by proposing a corporate head tax, you know? 
It's just that Dowell and others are pushing back hard, which can be frustrating. 
Johnson seems open to listening to other ideas, so who knows, maybe we'll see some innovative solutions emerge from this challenge? 
Maybe even Dowell will surprise us with a new proposal that works for everyone! 
. maybe Dowell's right - they should present their own ideas instead of just opposing head tax. that way, we get some real solutions 
, you know the one I'm talking about? they had this incredible Korean BBQ taco that literally blew my mind 
, and it got me thinking... have you ever noticed how some of the best food is found in unexpected places? like, who would've thought a tiny truck in a side alley could serve up some of the tastiest grub? 
#ChicagoBudget #CorporateTax #FairShare