With Todd Feurer Meredith Barak
Chicago (CBS) — On Monday, Mayor Lori Wrightfoot relies on a federal stimulus fund, various “savings and efficiencies,” and a modest property tax hike to solve the $ 733 million budget shortfall, 2022. Proposed a $ 16.7 billion spending plan.
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It’s been the second year in a row that the mayor has asked the mayor to support a property tax hike in Chicago, less than the $ 94 million property tax hike approved by the city council in 2021. ..
The city’s property tax hike proposed in 2022 includes an automatic $ 22.9 million hike related to the consumer price index approved by city council members last year. An additional $ 25 million to fund the mayor’s $ 3.7 billion capital plan next year. $ 28.6 million in tax revenue collected from new real estate.
Lightfoot also used $ 385 million of the $ 1.9 billion federal stimulus fund given to the city to fill the gap in the city’s 2022 budget and head towards the city’s 2021 budget shortfall. We plan to spend $ 882 million and $ 152 million to cover the income lost in 2023. ..
The mayor has also declared a surplus of $ 271.6 million in tax-raising loans, resulting in an additional $ 67 million in revenue from the city’s corporate fund and an additional $ 150.2 million sent to Chicago Public Schools. increase.
Lightfoot plans to fill the remaining budget gap with a variety of “savings and efficiencies” for $ 298.2 million. This includes $ 67.8 million in reducing medical costs for city officials negotiated in trade union contracts and $ 230 million in the “Recovery of Financial Management” initiative.
In his budget speech, Wrightfoot reiterated the financial difficulties the city faced during the pandemic, but optimistically said, “Our economy is definitely recovering.” ..
Still, Lightfoot said many Chicago residents, especially those in the black and Latino communities, still need help from the city government.
“Our people are hurt and need continuous support and support,” she said, with 27% of Chicago citizens losing medical care and 33% of workers reducing working hours during the pandemic. He said that 28% of the inhabitants were suffering. Injustice of food.
“This latest chapter in our history is brutal and features too many stories of hardship, pain, and even death,” Wrightfoot said.
In a new program proposed by the mayor, she said her spending plan was $ 52 million for a mental health program, $ 35 million to help victims of gender-based violence, and affordable. It said it would secure $ 240 million and $ 71 million for its housing initiative. Targeted financial and legal assistance for poorly serviced residents such as undocumented immigrants.
Lightfoot also said he supported the first cash benefit plan for low-income households. This will result in direct monthly payments to the thousands of the poorest families in the city. The mayor called it the largest in the country.
“To build a better city, we have to do more to invest in our people, our families, our neighborhood. Toward a radical transformation. Investing, “she said. “As you can see, we need to take big, bold and bold steps for the benefit of today’s population and to build a bridge to the future.”
In addition to the $ 385 million Federal Stimulation Fund reserved to fill the city’s budget holes, the mayor will also spend more than $ 550 million from the US Rescue Program on several social welfare programs. Is proposing.
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This includes $ 120 million for various family-friendly support programs in Chicago, $ 103 million for health and wellness programs, $ 85 million for anti-violence initiatives, $ 9 million for environmental programs, and homeless support. $ 32 million, youth program includes $ 65 million, $ 16 million. $ 30 million for arts and culture, community development initiatives, $ 10 million to support digital infrastructure, $ 71 million to support small businesses, and $ 20 million to support tourism.
The mayor’s budget plan also includes various parking tickets, traffic tickets, and new initiatives to reduce the burden of other city non-compliance on low-income Chicago citizens.
According to Wrightfoot, those who can show that they can’t afford to repay a pile of ticket debt will have the opportunity to repay the latest ticket and the rest of the debt will be tolerated. You can also qualify for a program that halves the cost of your tickets.
In addition, everyone in Chicago can qualify for a “correction ticket” program for simple non-compliance, such as the loss of a city vehicle sticker, giving them the last chance to buy the stickers they need and grant their tickets. increase.
As a clear effort to boost support from city councilors, Lightfoot also announced a $ 5 million “Micro Grant Fund” to secure $ 100,000 in each ward. “
“You know this, good city councilors have a ward beat, know the points of inhabitant pain, and we have tools to help you address the needs of your inhabitants. I would like to equip each person with more equipment, “she said.
Even before the mayor’s budget speech, some critics called on her to adjust how the city’s money was spent.
Prior to Lightfoot’s speech, several community members, leaders, and city councilors should meet in the city hall to address the urgent needs of the community most hit by pandemics and generations of negligence. I asked her.
They asked Lightfoot to secure a $ 900 million Federal Stimulation Fund to reach the communities in need, including:
- $ 277 million to family and support services sector for childcare, youth employment, domestic violence services and more.
- $ 142 million to the Public Health Service to reopen mental health clinics and expand response to non-police mental health crises.
- $ 160 million to the Housing Department to maintain and expand affordable home and tenant protection.
- It also has $ 70 million in violence interruption programming that provides non-police response to support other precautions such as housing, mental health care, and employment.
They also said they wanted a cost-cutting option that wouldn’t rely on poor working-class Chicago citizens to direct their budgets to progressive sources of income rather than raising property taxes.
Aldo. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33)rd) I referred to the report published in 1968 to create a peaceful community and improve the well-being of the inhabitants. She believes that these recommendations can still be followed today to improve the lives of many Chicago citizens.
“We are experiencing a wave of violence in Chicago. We have the big problem of lack of affordable homes and we don’t have so many homes in our community. There are people. We are facing a mental health crisis and we don’t have the tools to deal with it. And the consequences of all these issues are thrown into the police, so we are now on this budget I have the opportunity to come here and adapt myself to those recommendations that have been there since 1968, “she said.
The city council will begin a series of budget hearings with various city departments over the next three weeks to consider the mayor’s spending plans.
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The final vote on the mayor’s budget is tentatively scheduled for late October.
Lightfoot announces $ 16.7 billion in spending plans for 2022, balancing budgets with federal funding and modest property tax increases – CBS Chicago
Source link Lightfoot announces $ 16.7 billion in spending plans for 2022, balancing budgets with federal funding and modest property tax increases – CBS Chicago
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