Mayor's financial task force proposes downtown congestion fee, service tax, restructuring electricity taxes

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's financial task force proposes revenue measures including a downtown congestion fee, higher electricity taxes for high-volume users, and a sales tax on consumer services to address the city's $36 billion pension crisis and $1.15 billion budget shortfall. The task force, led by Jim Reynolds and Karen Freeman-Wilson, suggests long-term reforms like pension lump-sum payouts and property tax escalators to resolve structural deficits.