In what is certain to be a preview of a contentious City Council budget vote, the powerful Finance Committee approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel's record $544M property tax hike, by a 17-10 vote.
The Committee heard days of testimony from Emanuel cabinet leaders and City Budget Director Alexandra Holt over the tax hike. Jason Ervin (5th), one of the 10 nays, voiced concern over whether the expanded homeowners exemption that would provide some relief to homeowners won't be signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner. Fellow opponent Leslie Hairston (28th) asked if the city could simply tap into its already low "rainy day fund" to avoid the hike, according to DNAInfo. Holt said the fund was not on the table.
The property tax hike will now be debated before the full council next Wednesday. Last year, only four aldermen voted against the mayor's budget. The big question isn't whether Rahm's budget will be approved, but how many aldermen will vote against the politically toxic tax hike.
The eight remaining nays came from Aldermen Brendan Reilly (42nd), Tom Tunney (44th), Roberto Maldonado (26th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Nicholas Sposato (38th), John Arena (45th), Harry Osterman (48th) and Debra Silverstein (50th). Finance Committee chairman Ald Ed Burke (shown) led the yeas.
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