JEFFERSON PARK — The Chicago City Council's Progressive Caucus will hold two town hall meetings to give residents a chance to weigh in on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposal to raise property taxes by $588 million during the next four years.
The mayor's proposed $7.8 billion spending plan for 2016 includes one of the largest property tax increases in Chicago history and would impose a $9.50 per month garbage collection fee while privatizing 311 to pull the city out of a sea of red ink and shore up pensions for police officers and firefighters.
The town hall meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., in Jefferson Park and at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Southside Occupational Academy High School, 7342 S. Hoyne Ave. in Englewood.
Members of the caucus, which includes Ald. John Arena (45th), have urged Emanuel to find ways other than a property tax hike to fill the city's budget deficit and pay the $550 million bill for police and fire pensions that will come due in 2016.
The massive tax increase is needed "to right the financial ship for the City of Chicago," Emanuel said. Without it, the city would be forced to fire 2,500 police officers and 2,000 firefighters, cut garbage collection in half and slash spending on potholes, recycling, graffiti removal, tree trimming and rat abatement, he told the city council.
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