Twenty-Six "Ideas"
What they mean is "twenty-six ideas to relieve you of your hard earned money:"
Staring down the barrel of a $1.12 billion shortfall, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration on Thursday distributed a list of more than two dozen revenue generating ideas to take the temperature of City Council members who refused to raise property taxes a year ago.
The itemized list includes 26 ideas — along with high- and low-end revenue estimates. Eighteen of the ideas originated with members of the City Council. Seven came from civic organizations. One simply states “external stakeholder.”
The biggest potential money makers are an increase in property taxes with a high-end estimate of $396 million, and an increase in the $9-a-month garbage collection fee with a potential yield of $296.9 million.
More:
Other big-ticket items include: imposing a congestion surcharge ($103 million); raising taxes on liquor ($90 million), restaurant meals ($20 million), bottled water ($27.9 million) and checkout bags ($13 million); extending the amusement tax to resellers ($38 million) and imposing a city tax on sports betting ($17 million).
Lump sum “payments-in-lieu-of-taxes” imposed on hospitals, churches universities and other non-profits exempt from paying property taxes made the chart compiled by the mayor’s finance team with an annual revenue estimate of $52 million.
Many of these taxes and fees can be avoided by simply shopping in the suburbs. Southeast siders can cross state lines easily. Eat out less, smoke, less, gamble less, etc. More people (and businesses) will simply pack it in and leave.
Of those twenty-six proposals, not a single one seems to deal with cost cutting. Not a single school has been closed, even when enrollment falls below 10% of capacity. That proposal to only pick up garbage every other week? If you thought the rat problem was bad now....whoa nelly.
They make useless pronouncements about "efficiencies" but make no effort to cut middle management. Here's a clue - if a government job title has the word "assistant" in it, it's a useless spot....and that includes Assistant Deputy Superintendents and Assistant Principals and Assistant Anything at City Hall.
We're already under a "hiring freeze" as another 200 cops are on tap to retire by the end of the year, but not a single spot has been cut from Conehead's 145 cop detail. It's going to get so much worse.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
133 Comments:
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
― Margaret Thatcher
Every Sunday I drive to Milwaukee for breakfast.
Started a long time ago, listen to news or podcasts while I drive.
Very relaxing.
Do my shopping at Costco, get my gas before leaving.
Occasionally I like to ser a movie, no gangs, less crowded.
Forty minutes later I am home.
My life is about denying the state of taxes.
Actually, kind of relaxing.
Try it, btw F.Y.J.B.!
Another 200 by years end? Doubtful.
There’s always this doom and gloom “1000+ cops are retiring this year! 1000+ cops are retiring because Brandon Johnson was elected! 1000+ cops are retiring because of the DNC!” Remember those? Those were not just predictions, but verified by “sources”.
Retirements are happening, obviously, but nothing even close to the rate that people seem to think.
Conehead and Pigster are doing wonders for retail stores and restaurants across the border in Indiana.
Propery tax is a reliable way to get taxpayer money. Conehead will go with the property taxes. Got to fund the socialist causes. Yes he will be a one term mayor, but he will sacrifice himself for the good of the socialist agenda to ensure their goals are funded. The progressive/socialist movement will ensure that another party stooge will be elected mayor .
The city that works....
good. the city will increasingly be wealthy.
Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman
Yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman
Yeah, I'm the taxman
I'll tax the street
(If you try to sit, sit) I'll tax your seat
(If you get too cold, cold) I'll tax the heat
(If you take a walk, walk) I'll tax your feet
(Taxman)
'Cause I'm the taxman
Yeah, I'm the taxman
(From "Taxman", The Beatles)
The city is screwed. Idiot voters to blame.
Nothing but the best for the city that works
Yes, it gets time consuming to do everything in the northern suburbs but we never drop money in the city. People who have already fled said if you decided to leave it takes up to about a year to sell you house and find one in another State plus it's a big expense initially. We just lost our last tie that kept us here. So we all keep complaining about what is happening with the city but it keeps getting worse and there is nothing we can do to save it. Start collecting boxes as if you buy them they can become expensive!!
Taxpayers are just spare parts to pay the six-figure salaries and pensions of the municipal employees!
How about get rid of all those vice mayors that do less then the Idiot mayor himself......
then you must go into the "safe part" of milwaukee
It just goes to show everyone how stupid and inept the mayors office really is……a government so big one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.
They better learn the word DOGE!!
They better learn to operate at a reduced budget. Otherwise, we will be Detroit 2.0
A suggestion from the peanut gallery: Have the rats eat the dead, just tell them it tastes like chicken
The 18 percent funded pension system would disagree with you...there is a problem here.
Democrats are all about Contracts and Kickbacks. Nothing more.
Midway resident here, anything west of Harlem gets my business all day everyday
You'll find out when the pension runs out of money. If you think everything is okay, you're delusional. Things are really bad. All one needs to do is drive down Michigan Avenue or State Street. Maybe just talk to business people in the city. They know and they know it's bad.
Retired a year ago. For the last 20 years our family has only spent money in our neighborhood supporting local businesses (Mt. Greenwood/Beverly) outside of our neighborhood we spend all our money from gas and food to entertainment in Oak lawn, Orland Park, Tinley and Palos. Great restaurants, plenty of free parking, worry free with car jackings, shootings, robberies and ghetto teen take overs. You get to enjoy pleasant dining. Looking forward to all the hater response posts!
Perhaps they should be charge for the lead they are delivering in the water.
Cité your source please. I cite the pension fund.
Who gets to arrest conehead?
It’s been said a million times. Dump the aldercritters. NY and LA don’t have 50 alder thieves.
I’d say 5.South side, S/W, West side, N/W, and North side.
145 person detail times minimum of $100k plus bosses that’s $20 million to protect that idiot?
Do all your shopping in Indiana whenever possible.
Where you going to find a job with a nonsense degree with all the real non-work for over 100K plus pension benefits?
How many coppers left and have returned or are begging to get rehired because they found out when you go somewhere else to work that you really have to work and you are held to account. These new generation coppers have no clue what real work is ! And you have to wear a uniform that matches here you cannot find two coppers that are dressed alike or have the same type of hair standards
Milwaukee is as ghetto as Chicago. It just costs less.
Start cutting useless jobs across the board dufuss. Savings = billions!
If your really on the job then you have computer access, might want to look at all the daily Cake and coffee messages or just look at data warehouse. The number don’t lie !
The people hired during the hiring boom of the mid-90's are coming of age and maxing out, sure, 200 easily.
No, we’re wasting money on social workers and violent offenders/ gang members/violence reduction. Also vacant schools wasting money.
Great idea let's put more pressure on restaurants.
That’s right, chump. I gave almost 34 years of my life to the job. Color me entitled to every red cent that I’ve earned.
That’s 34 years of assorted sacrifices and stresses those in the private sector will never have to endure.
Stayed 5 years past being maxed out, still contributing 9% of my salary towards the pension fund in order to secure health care coverage for my family while generations of democratic deadbeats and most recently - ILLEGAL ALIENS - were lavished with free everything, compliments of my heavily taxed paychecks.
So yes, my six figure salary and savage OT checks were - and now six figure pension will be primarily funded by YOU, Mr. Taxpayer. This is part of the “You know what you signed up for” mantra that liberals and police haters spew on a regular basis. I honored my end of the contract and the invoice for my services rendered is now in your mailbox.
Ready for the best parts?…
- my pension wasn’t taxable on the state end the short time I collected in that shithole state called Illinois
- I now reside in a beautiful Red State collecting my fat pension compliments of the people of the city of Chicago. I contribute zero to that economy while welcoming a sizable direct deposit every month
- the best president since Reagan has ensured I’ll also be collecting 100% of my Social Security benefits. Fuck you, Rostenkowski!!
- my genetics look promising to keep me on the dole until my 90s
So STFU about my pension and focus on adjusting your finances to accommodate the property tax increase about to get shoved up your ass. You just acquired another mouth to feed… mine. And I’m hungry. Enjoy that.
I'm moving out of Chicago and Cook County the day after I retire!
Sportsbetting, weed, liquor. I haven't purchased bottled water in the city since Rahm, not once.
Brandon needs to cut MILLIONS in waste, before raising one cent of taxes.Off topic, over/under on amass shootings this weekend is 2.Enjoy your weekend.
Correct but the next socialist that will be elected might be worse. Didn't think it could get worse than Lightfoot, we thought wrong.
Why don't you run for office ?
You know that song was about the high tax rate in England, right ?
Pink slips for 50% of alderman, for the all these civilian made up positions, start getting rid of all these exempts spots, get rid of assistant mayors.. pink slips for 50% 0f teachers
The Illinois Legislature needs to enact a cap on "police misconduct" awards.
Key statement: "Of those twenty-six proposals, not a single one seems to deal with cost cutting." Spend billions on illegals and failing schools when your pensions are dangerously underfunded. There is a tipping point and if (when) Chicago gets there the collapse will be quick.
Mayor BITCH won't get my money for his socialist progressive shit.
I'll be in Tennessee in 3 months.
Old school 'rank and file' = blue shirts
New school 'stank and vile' = soiled white shirts
Adjust your reference points accordingly.
Fittingly, a british band.
I’m submitting my retirement paperwork this September, with plans to officially retire next year when I turn 55 and become eligible for healthcare coverage. I had originally hoped to stay longer, but that’s no longer realistic. The city and the department have drained every bit of energy and passion I once had for this job.
After 29 years on duty as a senior officer, I’m no longer as quick or strong as I once was. On-duty injuries have taken their toll. The constant cancellation of days off, extended shifts, missed holidays, and the uphill battle to get time off to care for elderly family members have pushed me to my limit.
Physically and mentally, I’m exhausted. The deep respect and affection I once had for this job, this department, and this city have been replaced with disillusionment. If I could walk away tomorrow, I would, but like many others, I need the insurance.
I can’t wait for next year to arrive. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Remember when they would have someone at the border stopping people who would go to Indiana to buy cigarettes and return.
I live in just across the border in Indiana. In my ~200 house neighborhood 9 out of 10 new residents over the past 3 years have come in from Illinois. Knowing many of them, I am grateful that most have been right leaning, whew. Going to grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants etc around town (and neighboring towns) I see lots of Illinois plates. I, as many Hoosiers, welcome their additional tax revenue.
If you're retiring and plan on coming to Florida, please leave your politics at the state line. And woke people stay the hell out!
Instead of using money on illegals and bribes for votes, be fiscally responsible. If you don't have money, don't spend it. A concept that democrats never understood.
Detroit, here we come!
Eliminate the sanctuary BS which would cut that deficit in half.
It’s amazing to me that people are not screaming to lift the residency requirement.
Hot Tip: Liquor stores love to give away sturdy cardboard boxes for free
There are plenty of people that are willing to move into the city and pay the high taxes. Check the real estate market. Homes condos rentals they’re all selling. It comes down to how much are you willing to pay and at what point you’ve had enough and need to move on. It’s very unfortunate what has become of this once great city but all things change. Once you can no longer tolerate it do some research and move on. You only live once there are no do overs…
We have mayors controlling vice ?
9161’s are down. Take a look. Add that to all the house mice. Prob 30% hiding inside. We short on the street.
Conehead doesnt care about driving corporations and businesses out of town. A good portion of his CPS students wouldnt be able to get hired at Citadel, United etc.
So what’s your point ?
The actual number might be lower, so no need for anyone to try to live this shithole because misery loves company ?!
I’m part of the predicted 200 and can’t wait to leave !!
Gfy
The country is filled with totally reckless voters and drivers, but they only complain about the guns.
None are good choices
Wanna bet Cupcake?
Keep voting Democrat, it has worked so well so far!
Denial is not a river in Africa, it is a way of life in Chicago. You will figure that out when you leave Chicago.
And when the thousands of people default on their mortgages or just “walk away”, he will blame the GOP. The trouble is, many people will believe him.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Assistants aren’t useless! Look at that Assistant Principal that was recently hired in Orlando Park for example. He is a cross dresser, he can give advice to all the little children’s, just like Obama tells us. The girls will benefit from his love ❤️of makeup and fashion sense, and the boys will benefit from his knowledge of………..
Chicago is so totally fucked up ! You can’t barbecue in your backyard without the mother loving rats running around waiting for their piece off the grill ! I’m talking fucking ridiculous ! Myself and my neighbors put out poison , snd traps. But It just keeps getting worse, and this fucking moron mayor wants to do garbage pick up every other week holy fuck Batman ! What the fuck is next the black plague !
Trump can’t sue Canada. They’re about to become our 51st state!
I like this idea. The ride isn’t bad at all. It does, however, highlight the fact that our living environment pretty much sucks.
Downtown Milwaukee used to be one of our favorite close road trips, until we were the victims of an attempted strong armed robbery on Wisconsin Blvd right in front of the Hilton If you are downtown it's just like Chicago sorry to say the usual suspects lurking, and looking for victims
If only the rich would pay their “fair share”. 😀
sarcasm or stupidity ?
Barry said it best……We need a REDISTRIBUTION of wealth. It goes hand in hand with the PRIVILEGE so many of us grew up with. Ya know, the privilege that my grandfather had to finish concrete 50 hours a week until his back refused to straighten up. And the privilege that my father had to leave one job, stop at home to eat dinner, and then tend bar while my mom waited tables for a coffee cup full of quarters. Yeah that was tipping then 25 & 50 cents.
Mentioned in the comments is a guy that has breakfast in Milwaukee on Sundays, and southsiders that shop in Indiana, and others that get a small degree of relief by shopping in various suburbs.
The two party system is not without flaws, but here in Illinois we only have ONE party. Illinois is WITHOUT political guardrails.
Family roots hold many of us here.
As some of our friends children have grown up and moved to other states, they get a degree of peace in knowing that their adult children will live in a much better environment.
I thought it was, 'The city that shirks'.
Holy crap!
You guys only pay $9/mo for garbage pickup?
I'm paying more than double that in OKC.
"Of those twenty-six proposals, not a single one seems to deal with cost cutting."...They will cut CPD OT and FD budget after they get their tax hikes to make up the rest of the deficit. It is in their playbook. Tax and spend.
Hey I started your house on fire. Let me tell you how to put it out.
How original bubba
I was told years ago by the union when I questioned them about the pension. “. That will never happen here. Chicago is no where like Detroit!! The state will fund it if filed bankruptcy!”” Dumb fucks everywhere!!
The easiest thing to do would be cut off funding to illegals. Next and probably the biggest savings would be cutting the massive waste in CPS. Close the schools that have hardly any students and cut unnecessary staff all over the city. AND STOP LETTING CTU CALL THE SHOTS! This would give Chicago a budget surplus. But we have a mayor that is owned by CTU
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula. NOT in the snow belt, and "there's no rules north of the bridge!" (Mackinac Bridge) Beed here commuting between Milwaukee suburb and UP 20+ years. You can enjoy Heaven on earth! You can!
Will never happen. Years ago there was some legislation regarding tort reform, but the supreme court said those limits were unconstitutional.
8/01/2025 08:27:21 AM
I like the cut of your jib, sir or m’am!! That’s a proper beatdown if there ever was one.
It was oaid for ny property taxes. It should br zero. Also, only properties valued over 250k are assessed the fee. There is a municipal and pension tax on the entire bill too.
Additional $9.00, dummy. Read.
About 5 billion dollars in remittance payments each month leave the United States to foreign bank accounts. How about taxing these money transfers like personal income. Pay your fair share. Kind of like a tariff on personal money transfers paying for all the free municipal services. Many would argue only federal tax laws can apply to international money transfers. Immigration laws are federal laws and locally controlled courts uphold blatant violations of federal law. So why not tax money originating in the city destined for foreign economies when your a mayor or aldermens. You have absolute control in your Cook County controlled democrat party fiefdom.
Start with a small tax to get your foot in the door and incrementally raise the tax rates as a means to achieve your ends. Deceive, lie, plot or obfuscate your way to higher tax rates or the introduction to a socially justified tax. Democrats the ball is in your court. Do the right thing and spread the misery to your newest signed up to vote "welcomed" guests. There is no amnesty when it comes too excessive taxation or a promising government revenue stream.
I live nw and had a rat run in yard. Dogs tore it to shreds. Was epic. Vet bill was worth it. Few shots just in case. Never saw another rat around house.
Cut all aid to illegals and any able body person. If you can walk to store and buy lotto smokes and 40’s you can work.
Good fou you. Retired to Fla. hot, humid and second largest state with peeps from community. Bunch of old guys too over 76 and women over 68. Yikes. Last thing I need is a 69 yr old drunk woman in Fla. Not good. Yikes. Know one.
I too spoke with someone from the union. I received a similar response. Seems that they are in the tank for the city. FOP needs to sue for transparency, and find out how close to oblivion we really are...J-Cat..? (crickets)
Mayor Conehead could save the City money by cutting off Little Big Man Richie Daley’s bodyguard detail and City Car all paid for by the Taxpayers
yea ok,,,, then let's talk about the tax on the house,,, the water bill, the city sticker, the extra taxes on the gas bill and the electric bill and the phone bill, then don't forget the added taxes on a gallon of gas, bottled water, plastic bag when buying food,,,etc,,etc...etc... and how much do you pay to park on the city streets that you already paid taxes on?
Conehead is going to fuck us one more time before he is voted OUT!!! Money will go CPS. Now asshole will brag about how Chicago will get the All Star Games to Wrigley in 2027 and the money it will bring in but a little too late for most of us. Thank God i'll be out of here in a few months and not have to deal with it. One thing guys, when you retire, DO NOT take all your time in one lump sum..if you are between 55 and 59 and take one lump sum it will VOID your insurance coverage. If you are 60 + you can take a lump sum without voiding your insurance coverage. Just FYI. When you get your paperwork from the pension board, make sure you take your time (like comp, pdays etc) and take it in installments..DO NOT check the 1 payment box unless you 60 +. Unless your going to take all your accrued time and put it into deferred comp.
If the Tier 2 pension reform is signed by the governor that could enhance benefits for police and fire pensions but projected to further decrease the funded ratio, potentially dropping it to 18% in the coming years.
If the next contract doesn't lift the residency requirement, I am retiring and moving out of state. Oh, and I want a juicy big fat raise as well...I'm done working OT other than mandatory.
I know it is unlikely, so I will keep my goodbyes short...Ill let the pension board know where to send the checks...
Where do you live? I’ve never seen a rat anywhere in my Chicago neighborhood my entire life. Downtown yes. But not on the NW side.
Conehead the Bonehead.
It's been two days and nobody complained about Tac Lt from 012 🤔
I sure hope everyone relying on your pension realizes it’s all coming crashing down. The City and the State are researching how to pay Pennie’s on the dollar. There is no money and anyone saying we need to open the books or sell assets doesn’t understand the dire state of things. Put a fork in Chicago and find a retirement job.
Leia the now 175 lb snake says I don't care about taxes I'm suing for being demoted.
Here is an idea, pay the supervisors power test and me too retro.
Thanks for that info…
I remember when the soda tax was rumored. A poster said “ I go to cabelas for my ammo , then walmart for my soda and then to the gas station for my gas!!!
I Do The Same!!!
I notice a lot of commenters get angry whenever this is mentioned. The entire municipal employee system depends on "other people's money."
OPiuM! Other People's Money!
I retired 9 years ago, a lump sum was not an option, distributed over 4 years?
try waukesha county vs. mke Resisting the urban rot
Higher crime rate in Milwaukee than in Chicago or in most US cities. The usual suspects are responsible.
It has nothing to do with insurance Chumley.
I sold my home and lived with some friends for several months. (out in the burbs!) It takes longer to sell your house than you think. Choose your RE agent wisely. I tried to sell the previous year, but held out for a higher price. CPD was paying me well, so why not stay a little longer? The next year, a sucker, I mean buyer gave me my price. Taxes went up again the very next year. I pulled the plug and have yet to return to Chicago other than to pick up my retirement badge, and go to a wedding.
CPD needs to lift residency...It costs nothing, and it's just time...
Im calling BS on this post. Post your doom and gloom on another anonomous blog sir...
No hate here. You have made great choices to avoid anything Shicago related.
Very well said. And they don't have the math skills to apply for the trades.
Indiana is certainly not going to object to shoppers being pushed its way.
Notice that there's no discussion of "cuts" in any of this.
Write the equation for implementing these suggestions of your's.
Then test run the equation within your imagination laboratory.
Let us know what results you find.
And end the legalized bribes that law firms pay to mayoral and aldermanic campaign funds? Will never happen.
Indiana is getting expensive and crowded. My electric bill has gone up 15% July 1st and is going up 17% January 1st of 2026. So much residential development is occurring in south Lake County and Porter County, but the road infrastructure has not kept up. All these new subdivisions are being built along what are two lane farm roads. Try driving on US41 at 7am to get to I-394. I'd say commuters from Indiana comprises 85% of the Traffic on 394. It is only going to get worse.
That being said, I moved last year from Lake County and purchased a small farm and built a house in a rural community in west central Indiana. It is great. Quiet, no crime, great schools, low taxes and no shitheads. I'm about an hour west of Indy.
I have a winter home in Pensacola. FL is very expensive for a retired person. High property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees and now thousands of homes for sale as people leave FL because they can no longer afford it. And a lot of shitheads in FL who make their living shoplifting, carjacking and dealing drugs. I own two cars down there. An expensive pickup and a beat up old Ford Explorer. When I go kayak fishing in the Gulf, I take my beater because leaving it at the beach parking, I don't care if it is broken into because there is nothing of value in it. The shitheads and crackheads roam the parking lots on Sunday mornings stealing from cars and trailers while people are out fishing.
Thank God both Indiana and Florida are full castle doctrine states.
Insurance at 55 is an agreement with the City to take ur Comp time payouts in installments
True, so very true. Look at the CP Pension Fund's monthly reports. The more the fund is selling assets the closer the fund gets to bankruptcy.
Sounds like u failed Sgt Exam
Don’t hate….
A lot of us leaving at 50 years old with 70% pension. The health insurance isn’t an issue with spouses that have it and the extra 5% on the pension is peanuts. You can keep your 55 and out, will take the money and run!
"how to pay Pennie’s on the dollar." Is that Henny Pennies dollars???
Millions for Illegals, then they have plenty. Get a life you jealous hater.
Southwest Florida is very reasonable and as a matter of fact my michigan and florida property taxes are less then my 1300 square foot place in Beverly!
Everyone should retire with a PO pension! u make extra when promoted,the funds will be bankrupt in the coming yrs,sooner then later!
Same with L2 union over the years,totally clueless people!
8:27:21AM….Yes! You just described my experience and current path to a T. Been out of Illinois and living in deep red AMERICA for four years. Stay healthy and we’ll fuck them hard for 30 more years!
Even better is what an illegal alien gets from taxpayers.They get FREE housing, medical, plus additional extra spending money every month.Nice not to have to work one day to receive such benefits.
Carjackings? Been down here in the panhandle for 5 years. Haven’t seen that. Had to explain jackings and cat converter cuts to my neighbors. They never heard of them. Of course you have crackheads but it’s FL. They don’t fuck with strangers cus they might get smoked and will definitely be prosecuted. Taxes? House 10 miles inland and my beach condo combined cost less then half of what I paid yearly on an overvalued shitbox in Copland, Chiraq. Very happy here. Fuck Chicago. Don’t miss it one bit.
True or not? Do officers working on the mayor’s detail make sgt pay?
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