NORWOOD PARK — Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) will hold a town hall meeting 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 meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Taft High School, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
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.
The budget also includes $45 million that Emanuel said would be used relieve overcrowding in schools where students study in hallways and closets.
Schools throughout the Far Northwest Side are filled to overflowing with students because of an influx of families looking for affordable homes in a relatively safe area of the city, according to city and school data.
Napolitano, elected in April, has compared the mayor's budget proposal "to a punch in the face."
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