Emanuel sets three public meetings to talk Chicago budget gap

Aug. 24-Facing the biggest city budget hole in recent memory, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that he will hold three town hall meetings in the coming weeks to hear ideas from residents on how to close the gap.

The public budget meetings will be the first for Emanuel since August 2011, his first year in office. Predecessor Richard M. Daley staged public forums each year.

Daley’s hearings often turned into gripe fests, with little talk focused directly on the mayor’s budget proposal. This year could be different, considering the Emanuel administration estimates the city is at least $754 million short of what it needs and many aldermen believe a significant property tax increase is inevitable.

Balancing the spending plan solely by increasing property taxes would result in a 90 percent increase on the city portion of property tax bills. That approach could be doubly difficult if Emanuel follows through on potential plans for another significant property tax increase to keep Chicago Public Schools financially afloat.

Nearly two weeks ago, aldermen met with Budget Director Alexandra Holt to discuss ways to plug the budget hole. Many City Council members focused on ways to raise more money in the hope of minimizing a property tax increase.

Two ideas that seem to have gained traction are charging for city garbage pickup service, like many suburbs do, and extending the tax on cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products. Another idea being considered is a penny-an-ounce tax on sugary beverages.

“I would say there’s building consensus around at least two things. One is … a garbage fee like other communities around the state and country have, two (is) a fee in and around e-cigarettes and other tobacco products that are not cigarettes,” Emanuel said during a recent interview on WLS-AM 890’s “Connected to Chicago” show hosted by Bill Cameron.

During that interview, and at a separate public appearance, Emanuel stressed that he’s first looking to cut costs. In recent weeks, he’s proposed several ways to limit a property tax increase: declaring larger surpluses in special taxing districts, eliminating unused phone lines and making city buildings more energy-efficient.

But all the steps so far taken will only save about $30 million, still leaving a massive budget hole. So tougher medicine could be in store, and laying out the financial predicament at public forums could help the mayor make his case.

The town halls will be Monday at Malcolm X College, Sept. 2 at South Shore Cultural Center and Sept. 3 at Wright College, city officials said. All will start at 6:30 p.m.

hdardick@tribpub.com

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