Overview
- Talks remained stalled after a Monday meeting between Mayor Brandon Johnson and council opponents, with the Dec. 31 deadline raising the risk of a partial city government shutdown.
- The opposition bloc reported 27 co-sponsors after one withdrawal and needs 34 votes to override a promised veto from the mayor.
- Johnson continues to press a corporate head tax set at $33 per employee for companies with 500 or more workers, a plan criticized by business groups and backed by labor allies running dueling ads.
- Opponents say their alternative will rely on other revenue and savings, including higher liquor taxes, an expanded rideshare surcharge, selling certain debt to collectors, and lifting the city’s video gambling ban, but they have not detailed how they will replace about $35 million once tied to the garbage-fee increase.
- Council leaders scheduled multiple sessions through Dec. 23 after a coordinated no-show prevented a quorum at Monday’s first meeting intended to speed toward a budget resolution.