A ticket amnesty, more bus-lane tickets and a doubled betting tax: the smaller items in Chicago's 2027 budget

From May 3 to Aug. 31, 2027, paying the base fine on old parking and camera tickets would wipe out the penalties. The City's sports betting tax would go from 10.25% to 20%.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Oct 23, 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson's 2027 budget includes a set of smaller money moves that will touch more residents directly than the head tax: a ticket amnesty for old parking and camera tickets, more bus and bike lane tickets, and a doubled City tax on sports betting.

Why it matters: these are the parts of the budget that show up on a driver's ticket history or a bettor's app. Together they are projected to raise more than $55 million, according to figures reported by Block Club Chicago and CBS Chicago.

A ticket amnesty from May to August 2027

The 2027 Revenue Ordinance (O2026-0029643) includes a "Vehicle Violation Debt Relief Ordinance of 2027." According to the ordinance text (Article VI):

When: May 3 through Aug. 31, 2027.
Which tickets: parking, standing, compliance, speed camera and red-light camera tickets with a final determination and fine imposed on or before Dec. 31, 2024.
The deal: pay the original base fine for a ticket during that window, and the City waives the late penalties, interest, collection costs and attorney's fees on that ticket. People on payment plans must pay the full base fine during the window to get the waiver.
What's not covered: tickets the City is already pursuing in court, and violations under one section of the code (9-64-190). Towing and storage fees are not waived unless the City has already disposed of the impounded car.
No refunds for amounts paid before May 3.
People involved in pending fraud cases over City debt are not eligible.

Johnson said he expects "at least six million dollars in new collection" from the program in 2027 (watch at 1:20:43).

At the first budget hearing on Oct. 23, Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) said the City is owed close to $8 billion in fines and fees and asked whether more effort should go to collecting it (watch at 2:09:04).

More bus and bike lane tickets

The budget counts on about $12.8 million from expanding Smart Streets, the camera program that tickets cars blocking bus and bike lanes, Block Club reported. The Council already approved making the program permanent and citywide on Oct. 14; our story on that vote covers how it will roll out. The ordinance came from Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) and Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), Block Club reported, and Block Club said the expansion runs in three phases in 2027 and 2028. Johnson cited the citywide expansion in his budget address (59:06).

The sports betting tax would double

The City already taxes sports betting. The revenue ordinance would raise the rate on each sports wagering licensee from 10.25% to 20% of adjusted gross receipts on bets placed in Chicago, according to the ordinance text. That covers bets placed at a licensed sports facility in the city and online bets verified as placed within city limits.

CBS Chicago reported the increase is projected to bring in about $37 million, and that a pending court challenge argues only the state can impose such a tax.

What our records add: Online wagers were brought under the City tax by last year's budget. The Council's 2026 revenue ordinance, which passed 29 to 19 on Dec. 19, 2025, taxed online sports betting placed in Chicago, not just in-person bets, according to our summary of that ordinance. The same ordinance created City licenses for video gaming terminals in bars and restaurants.

How each ward voted

29 yea, 19 nay, 2 not voting · Dec 19, 2025 · Passed

Yea Nay Not voting

SO2025-0021719: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

How these fit the bigger picture

The amnesty, the camera tickets and the betting tax add up to roughly $56 million. That is small next to the $234 million the Mayor expects from a higher lease tax and the $101 million from a head tax. Smart Streets already has Council approval; the amnesty and the betting tax will be decided with the rest of the revenue ordinance.

What's next

The revenue ordinance is in the Committee on Finance. Budget Committee department hearings run through Nov. 10, the Council's public hearing on the budget is Dec. 8, and the budget must pass by Dec. 31.