Friday, August 01, 2025

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:

84 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
― Margaret Thatcher

8/01/2025 12:08:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.!

8/01/2025 12:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 12:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Conehead and Pigster are doing wonders for retail stores and restaurants across the border in Indiana.

8/01/2025 12:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 .

8/01/2025 12:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The city that works....

8/01/2025 12:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

good. the city will increasingly be wealthy.

8/01/2025 01:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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)

8/01/2025 01:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The city is screwed. Idiot voters to blame.

8/01/2025 01:59:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nothing but the best for the city that works

8/01/2025 02:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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!!

8/01/2025 02:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Taxpayers are just spare parts to pay the six-figure salaries and pensions of the municipal employees!

8/01/2025 04:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about get rid of all those vice mayors that do less then the Idiot mayor himself......

8/01/2025 04:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

then you must go into the "safe part" of milwaukee

8/01/2025 06:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

8/01/2025 06:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


A suggestion from the peanut gallery: Have the rats eat the dead, just tell them it tastes like chicken

8/01/2025 06:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The 18 percent funded pension system would disagree with you...there is a problem here.

8/01/2025 06:43:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Democrats are all about Contracts and Kickbacks. Nothing more.

8/01/2025 06:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Midway resident here, anything west of Harlem gets my business all day everyday

8/01/2025 06:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 06:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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!

8/01/2025 07:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps they should be charge for the lead they are delivering in the water.

8/01/2025 07:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cité your source please. I cite the pension fund.

8/01/2025 07:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who gets to arrest conehead?

8/01/2025 07:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 07:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

145 person detail times minimum of $100k plus bosses that’s $20 million to protect that idiot?

8/01/2025 07:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do all your shopping in Indiana whenever possible.

8/01/2025 07:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

8/01/2025 08:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Milwaukee is as ghetto as Chicago. It just costs less.

8/01/2025 08:15:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Start cutting useless jobs across the board dufuss. Savings = billions!

8/01/2025 08:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 !

8/01/2025 08:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The people hired during the hiring boom of the mid-90's are coming of age and maxing out, sure, 200 easily.

8/01/2025 08:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, we’re wasting money on social workers and violent offenders/ gang members/violence reduction. Also vacant schools wasting money.

8/01/2025 08:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great idea let's put more pressure on restaurants.

8/01/2025 08:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Fuck You, Pay Me said...

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.

8/01/2025 08:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm moving out of Chicago and Cook County the day after I retire!

8/01/2025 08:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sportsbetting, weed, liquor. I haven't purchased bottled water in the city since Rahm, not once.

8/01/2025 08:30:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 08:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Correct but the next socialist that will be elected might be worse. Didn't think it could get worse than Lightfoot, we thought wrong.

8/01/2025 08:32:00 AM  
Blogger JJ said...

Why don't you run for office ?

8/01/2025 08:37:00 AM  
Blogger JJ said...

You know that song was about the high tax rate in England, right ?

8/01/2025 08:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

8/01/2025 08:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Illinois Legislature needs to enact a cap on "police misconduct" awards.

8/01/2025 08:48:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 08:48:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mayor BITCH won't get my money for his socialist progressive shit.
I'll be in Tennessee in 3 months.

8/01/2025 08:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old school 'rank and file' = blue shirts

New school 'stank and vile' = soiled white shirts

Adjust your reference points accordingly.

8/01/2025 08:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fittingly, a british band.

8/01/2025 08:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 08:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Remember when they would have someone at the border stopping people who would go to Indiana to buy cigarettes and return.

8/01/2025 09:11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 09:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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!

8/01/2025 09:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 09:33:00 AM  
Blogger Anonymous said...

Detroit, here we come!

8/01/2025 09:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Eliminate the sanctuary BS which would cut that deficit in half.

8/01/2025 09:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It’s amazing to me that people are not screaming to lift the residency requirement.

8/01/2025 09:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hot Tip: Liquor stores love to give away sturdy cardboard boxes for free

8/01/2025 09:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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…

8/01/2025 09:54:00 AM  
Blogger I Voted For Kamala said...

We have mayors controlling vice ?

8/01/2025 10:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9161’s are down. Take a look. Add that to all the house mice. Prob 30% hiding inside. We short on the street.

8/01/2025 10:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 10:08:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 !!

8/01/2025 10:08:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gfy

8/01/2025 10:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The country is filled with totally reckless voters and drivers, but they only complain about the guns.

8/01/2025 10:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

None are good choices

8/01/2025 10:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wanna bet Cupcake?

8/01/2025 10:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Keep voting Democrat, it has worked so well so far!

8/01/2025 10:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Denial is not a river in Africa, it is a way of life in Chicago. You will figure that out when you leave Chicago.

8/01/2025 10:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 10:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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………..

8/01/2025 10:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 !

8/01/2025 11:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Trump can’t sue Canada. They’re about to become our 51st state!

8/01/2025 11:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like this idea. The ride isn’t bad at all. It does, however, highlight the fact that our living environment pretty much sucks.

8/01/2025 11:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

8/01/2025 11:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If only the rich would pay their “fair share”. 😀

8/01/2025 11:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sarcasm or stupidity ?

8/01/2025 11:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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.

8/01/2025 11:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I thought it was, 'The city that shirks'.

8/01/2025 11:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Holy crap!
You guys only pay $9/mo for garbage pickup?
I'm paying more than double that in OKC.

8/01/2025 11:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"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.

8/01/2025 11:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey I started your house on fire. Let me tell you how to put it out.

8/01/2025 12:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How original bubba

8/01/2025 01:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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!!

8/01/2025 01:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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

8/01/2025 02:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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!

8/01/2025 02:52:00 PM  

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