Verdict: Broken

No property tax increase for Chicago residents.

Brandon JohnsonMayor, Chicago·February 15, 2023

Source: Campaign platform [link]

Budget & TaxesMeasurable

What was promised

Metric: Property tax rate change

Target: No increase

What actually happened

Result: Proposed $300M hike (rejected); $165M in other tax/fee increases approved

Johnson proposed a $300 million property tax hike in November 2024 to address a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. The City Council unanimously voted it down. He lowered the request to $150M, then $68M, and was eventually forced to abandon the hike. However, his approved 2025 budget relies on $165 million in other increased taxes, fines, and fees — effectively breaking the no-new-taxes spirit of the pledge.

Data sources: Chicago Sun-Times, CBS Chicago, City Council records

Verdict: Broken

This promise was clearly not met. The target was missed by a significant margin or the commitment was abandoned.

Other promises from Chicago

Add 200 detectives to the Chicago Police Department to lower caseloads and improve murder clearance rates.

In Progress

Eliminate ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, which costs Chicago $9 million per year, calling it ineffective at reducing gun violence.

Kept

Expand mental health crisis response teams to at least 10 teams operating 24 hours a day, sending health staff instead of police to 911 mental health calls.

In Progress

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