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Chicago Tribune: In ‘State of the City’ speech, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago faces $838 million budget shortfall next year: ‘It’s the largest in our recent history’
Mayor Lori Lightfoot laid out a dismal financial forecast for Chicago during her citywide address Thursday night — a projected $838 million budget shortfall in the 2020 fiscal year — and called for a variety of help from state government while not ruling out any options to close the gargantuan shortfall.
Lightfoot’s televised “State of the City” speech provided few specific proposed solutions to the city’s money woes but mentioned future revenue from a casino, legalized weed and some form of revenue generated by limiting congestion on Chicago’s crowded streets. The mayor, who just observed her 100th day in office, left unclear how she prefers to offset the massive deficit but hinted that without help from the state, the city could look at other revenue generating options such as property tax hikes.
Chicago Tribune: Pensions. Taxes. Springfield. Here’s what to know about Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s speech on Chicago’s ‘staggeringly large’ budget woes.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot offered Chicago taxpayers a dour forecast for the city’s finances on Thursday — a “staggeringly large” 2020 budget deficit of $838 million.
Lightfoot declared state lawmakers must step in to help Chicago solve challenges that include overhauling the tax structure for a planned city casino and finding new tax proceeds from the sale of high-dollar properties.
Chicago Tribune: Expunging marijuana convictions: What you need to know
As part of the legalization of retail marijuana sales next year, new state law provides for wiping out low-level convictions and arrests for marijuana possession.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to qualify to have their public records erased for cases involving cannabis misdemeanors and lesser felonies. For most people with misdemeanors, the process is supposed to happen automatically. But for some people, officials warn, the process may be long and difficult.
Crain's Chicago Business: CPS chief 'hopeful' of avoiding teacher strike
But there was no immediate sign of optimism back from the union. And Jackson merely may have been channeling her boss, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who earlier in the week declared that there’s “no reason why” a deal can’t be reached, despite her proposal’s immediate rejection by the CTU.