Social Media Tax, Corporate Head Tax and More: Chicago Mayor Unveils Budget Aiming to Close Deficit

Brandon Johnson Will Call for a Tax that Rises For Each Employee

Brandon Johnson proposes a controversial head tax aimed at businesses hiring in Chicago.

Mayor Revives Head Tax, Adds Social Media Fee To Avoid Property Tax Hike Under Proposed 2026 Budget

CHICAGO — Facing a $1.19 billion budget gap and rising pension costs amid steep federal funding cuts, Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday unveiled a $16.6 billion budget that avoids property tax hikes or program cuts by leaning on new and expanded taxes for large corporations and citywide cost-saving measures. Johnson’s proposed budget — dubbed the Protecting Chicago budget — closes the shortfall through about $586 million in new or expanded taxes…

Sources Say Johnson Could Call for Head Tax

(CHICAGO) — As Mayor Brandon Johnson prepares to introduce his proposal to close a $1.15 billion budget shortfall, several City Hall sources are saying that Johnson will propose a corporate head tax to help fill that shortfall. Some alderman have been vocal against such a tax saying it could drive businesses out of the city. Chicago had a head tax for decades before Mayor Rahm Emanual eliminated it during his time in office. Before it went away,…

Social media tax, corporate head tax and more: Chicago mayor unveils budget aiming to close deficit

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has released his budget proposal, aiming to close a projected deficit of more than $1 billion.

Johnson targets head tax in 2026 proposed budget, but emboldened City Council likely to have final say

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), who marshaled opposition to Johnson’s 2025 budget, warned the mayor to prepare for another budget rewrite that includes deeper budget cuts to help make the case for higher taxes.

Johnson targets head tax in 2026 proposed budget, but emboldened City Council likely to have final say – Chicago Sun-Times

Delivering on Johnson’s promise to challenge businesses to “put more skin in the game” will likely mean a revived, dramatically enhanced and rebranded version of the $4-a-month-per-employee head tax despised by business leaders as a “job killer.” When Rahm Emanuel eliminated the head tax in 2013, it was generating roughly $20 million annually from more than 2,000 companies.