Conehead to Steal $175 Million

He's up against some hard deadlines:

• A critical mass of Chicago school board members has come out against reimbursing City Hall for a disputed pension payment, dooming its chances of passing. That leaves Mayor Brandon Johnson with less than a week to either change their minds or figure out another way to come up with the money to close the city’s 2024 budget in the black.

  Board of Education President Sean Harden postponed a pivotal vote last week on the approval of a $175 million pension payment from Chicago Public Schools to the city, a clear sign it lacked enough support to pass. He said the delay was due to an imminent contract agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union — though that deal has not been reached.

By the way, these are the people who want a 9% pay raise while there are entire high schools that can't read:

The City Council is also getting in on the act, warning Conehead about stealing the money without their approval:

• Fifteen independent City Council members put Mayor Brandon Johnson on notice Tuesday: Any move he makes to use city funds to cover a $175 million pension for nonteaching school employees must be made with legislative consent.

  Johnson does have not have the votes on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education to approve a borrowing or refinancing measure after seven board members declared their opposition to the mayor’s favored option.

  As a result, the mayor is now on the clock to come up with a plan B before city auditors close the books Monday on 2024.

But without an impeachment or recall provision, who's going to stop him? 

Maybe force the CTU to pay 9% of their salary to the pension funds like every other city union does, instead of the paltry 2% they currently do, saddling taxpayers with more unsustainable costs.