Chicago City Council demands Brandon Johnson make ‘real savings,’ not tax tricks in city budget

Published September 29, 2026 12:16pm ET



A bloc of Chicago City Council members is demanding that Mayor Brandon Johnson pursue spending cuts and other permanent savings before raising taxes or relying on unapproved state revenue to close the city’s projected $882.4 million budget gap.

The aldermen, who call themselves the City Council Budget Accountability Coalition, laid out their demands in a letter to Johnson on Monday as the city begins preparing its fiscal 2027 budget.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.