Council approves Emanuel's $8.6 billion budget

After the most tranquil budget season of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's tenure, the Chicago City Council on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a 2018 spending plan balanced with higher taxes on telephone bills, ride-hailing, and large-venue amusements, along with previously-approved taxes on property and water and sewer bills.

The only votes against the spending plan were cast by aldermen Scott Waguespack (32nd), John Arena (45th) and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th).

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Ramirez-Rosa had said before the vote that he opposed the budget because he didn't want to continue to "pick the pockets of those who can least afford to have their pockets picked" but that the alternatives proposed by the Progressive Caucus have been ignored.

In a statement issued after the vote, Ramirez-Rosa called it "immoral and irresponsible to nickel and dime Chicago's poor and working families when the city's wealthy and big corporations can and should pay more."

Emanuel defended the difficult fiscal decisions he and the council have had to make. He urged aldermen to "take a step back and remember where we were" when he took office. All four pension funds were "heading for insolvency and pulling the city in that direction." He then thanked the council for making the tough choices that pulled the city back from the cliff.

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