Ald. O'Shea Votes No To 2021 Pandemic Budget And Tax Levy
CHICAGO — Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) was one of 22 no-votes in opposition to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to plug a budget hole with a property tax increase. O’Shea also voted against the mayor’s 2021 pandemic budget.
Aldermen voted 28-22 in favor of the $94 million tax levy, and 29-21 to approve the 2021 $12.8 billion budget during the Chicago City Council meeting on Tuesday.
>>> Property Taxes Going Up Indefinitely; City Council Passes Budget
In an email to residents, O’Shea said he voted against the budget and property tax hike because it would have eliminated 600 police positions and reduced patrols in the 19th Ward, home to many police officers, firefighters and city employees.
“It was with your voices in mind, that I voted against this budget and the increased burden it places on property owners,” O’Shea said.
Here is the O’Shea’s statement in its entirety:
Earlier today, I voted against the 2021 Chicago Budget. My vote reflects my strong opposition to a property tax increase in the middle of an economic and public health crisis. I also do not support the elimination of over 600 police positions, which will likely result in reduced patrol coverage in the 22nd District in the coming fiscal year.
Chicagoans, and certainly residents of Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood and Beverly, have clearly demonstrated that they do not want a property tax increase. It was with your voices in mind, that I voted against this budget and the increased burden it places on property owners.
While I respect and acknowledge the serious fiscal challenges facing our City, our government is too reliant on property taxes. In lieu of the proposed property tax increase, I proposed legislation to legalize video gaming in Chicago. Unfortunately, a majority of the City Council disagreed with this approach.
I’d like to thank the many residents, business owners, and other stakeholders who took the time to share their opinions with me about this pandemic budget. Thanks also to the hard working men and women of the budget office and all the public employees who worked on this year’s budget, while I do not agree with the final product, I appreciate their hard work and the time they spent addressing my questions and concerns.
Moving forward, I hope to continue discussions about video gaming expansion, and explore other revenue sources to fund our government. It’s also my hope that Chicago will receive resources from the Federal Government to help address the budget crisis that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article originally appeared on the Beverly-MtGreenwood Patch
