CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled his plans for the 2017 city budget Tuesday.
Here are some highlights in the budget, from what's new in how Chicago will pay for things to what departments and services may be affected the most.
Disposable bag tax: The mayor is recommending a 7-cent tax for paper and plastic disposable bags at stores. The store would keep 2 cents of that, and would get a nickel. If passed by the City Council, the Mayor's Office anticipates the city will raise $9.2 million with the tax.
Parking hike around Wrigley Field: The city plans to implement a special event meter rate around Wrigleyville during Cubs games and special events. The move would increase the rate to $4 per hour and would only be in effect two hours before an event and one hour after. It is expected to raise $2.4 million.
Downtown loading zone changes: The city plans to start a pilot program that would make drivers of trucks, not businesses, pay for the right to park in loading zones. The city expects that the changes would lead to higher turnover at loading zones. The changes will come to the 2nd, 27th and 42nd wards with $14-per-hour rates. Once fully in effect, the measure would raise an estimated $13 million to $18 million for the city.
Enforcement, collecting debt and changing some tax loopholes: The Mayor's Office expects to raise $17 million in more revenue "from improved enforcement and collection measures on business and individuals with outstanding debt.
TIF surplus: For next year, the city expects to have $175 million in "surplus" tax increment financing funds, unused money that was set aside from taxes in certain parts of the city for the sake of projects within that area. As a part of a deal to prevent a teachers strike, the Mayor's Office agreed to set aside $87 million of that for Chicago Public Schools. Other city departments will get $40.5 million from those extra funds.
Department of Family and Social Services: The city department that works with social services organizations across the city would get a $60.9 million, or 17.8 percent, boost to its budget next year. The increase would pay for an expansion to mentoring programs like "Becoming a Man" and youth employment programs like One Summer Chicago.
Chicago Police Department: After Supt. Eddie Johnson announced plans last month to hire 970 more police officers to combat the city's spiking crime rate, the mayor is recommending increasing the Police Department's budget by $47.7 million, or 3.3 percent. Most of that is going toward salaries and overtime. The city expects the hiring to take two years, increasing the number of sworn officers from 12,565 this year to 13,535.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
