Gov. JB Pritzker said he sympathized with Chicago’s budget situation. “It’s very, very difficult and challenging, but it’s something you can tough your way through. And then you’ve got to plan for years to come, how you’re going to manage balanced budget going forward without raising broadly taxes on the people of Illinois.” Audio: Wirepoints’ Mark Glennon says Chicago pension buyout plan mostly shifts debt rather than eliminating it, property tax surge doubles inflation over three decades – Chicago’s Morning Answer
April 3, 2026
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Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Illinois lost another 54,000 tax filers and dependents, net, according to the IRS. Since 2000, fleeing taxpayers have taken $94 billion of annual adjusted gross income with them.
Why approach the state about a budget deficit Springfield cannot fix it’s own deficit.
Soon the tax will have a tax
Who are we kidding with all the illegals that these sobs let in taxes are going to go sky high unfortunately I have property in Chicago
Not surprised the City hasn’t talked to the Gov yet re the budget issue. The Mayor’s staff doesn’t know squat about how to get things done and how and when to talk to people in Springfield. Plus, they probably don’t even know what they want to ask for. In all likelihood, they will scurry down in mid-November for a few days of the Veto Session. That’s what they should be doing, so they can possibly pick up votes of retiring or defeated members who can be picked off since they are not running again. But based on their track record,… Read more »
As a recently freed slave, I applaud any effort in Illinois or Chicago to double or triple taxes. The simps that live there and acquiesce to this, and even support it, deserve that and more. When I was a slave, I hated the masters for being immoral thieves, but I hated the simps more for continually enabling their own slavery. So they deserve everything they get.
He’s got deep pockets, maybe he should fund the Chicago sinkhole personally.
Seems to have no problem funding all the other corruption.
Deep pockets, yes.
But very short arms.
“ Alligator arms “ is what my crowd termed people that were always in on the fun but never contributed to it financially.
Poor Johnson blows it again. Had could have asked Pritzker for some money before Kamala was selected as the nominee he would have had good chances. After all, free spending Pritzker had 500+ million for the Chinese before the election and the thought of the media headlines emblazoned “Pritzker Saves Chicago” would be too alluring to pass up. Bad timing Johnson, simply bad timing.
Didn’t think State of Illinois had any constitutional obligation to subsidize municipal operations of City of Chicago.
Forget Illinois’ “constitutional obligation” to Chicago — I don’t think the State has any more CASH.
And realistically, the state IS Chicago, with no other municipality having anywhere as near as much power as Chicago in Springfield, and the suburban districts politicians, all Democrats, towing the party line to give Chicago whatever it wants.
Wow, another ‘pot calling the kettle black’ moment for Pritzker. I’m certain Pritzker’s advice to Chicago is to raise more taxes – that’s all Pritzker and Democrats in Springfield have ever done.