Chicago City Committee Passes Revenue Plan Without Head Tax (1)

The Chicago City Council Finance Committee advanced an alternate revenue ordinance that does not include a so-called head tax, a sharp departure from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s original proposal.

The ordinance presented by alderpeople Scott Waguespack and Nicole Lee passed 22 to 13 in the committee on Tuesday. Last month, members of the committee rejected the mayor’s proposed revenue ordinance, which included a per-worker corporate levy. The move at the time had thwarted the process for the 2026 budget.

The first-term mayor and progressive Democrat is trying to close a nearly $1.2 billion deficit for 2026 and approval of the ...