Johnson says alderpersons who claim he hasn't reached out are "being dishonest." Two of them answered, with 48 days left

Ald. Samantha Nugent called it "obscene"; Ald. Anthony Beale said the Mayor should "look in the mirror." No budget item is on any committee agenda posted for next week.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 13, 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson said in an interview FOX 32 reported Thursday that alderpersons who say his office hasn't reached out to them on the 2027 budget are "being dishonest," and two of the 28 who rejected his plan answered on the record, FOX 32 reported.

Why it matters: the City has 48 days to pass a budget that closes a gap of about $882 million, and the two sides are now arguing about whether they're even talking. FOX 32 noted the budget must pass by Dec. 31 to avoid a shutdown.

This follows Thursday's story, which priced each piece of the plan the 28 signers rejected.

What was said

Johnson said passing a budget is the Council's responsibility and proposing one is his. He defended the head tax, which he calls the "Equitable Employer Tax," as a reasonable request of large employers. It would charge employers with 125 or more workers $25 per employee per month, with an exemption for workers who mainly work in designated areas on the South and West sides.
His office shared call and text records with FOX 32 showing unanswered calls to Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th). The report doesn't give their dates.
Nugent: "The idea that we're non-communicative with the staff is just obscene." She also said, "Nobody wants a government shutdown."
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th): "If he wants to say people are dishonest, he needs to look in the mirror and decide who's being dishonest." And: "It's our job as aldermen to vote it up or down."

Both said dropping the head tax isn't negotiable, FOX 32 reported.

Where the budget sits on the calendar

From our meetings calendar as of Friday morning:

No Budget Committee meeting is posted. Its department hearings ended Nov. 10.
Monday's Finance Committee agenda has sewer bonds, six TIF extensions, two charity permits and small claims, and nothing from the 2027 budget (our story). Finance meets again Nov. 30; that agenda isn't posted.
Dec. 8: the Council's public hearing on the budget (R2026-0029546), with Council meetings Dec. 8 and 9.

Last year's budget passed Dec. 20.

What our records add

Their records. Nugent has 100% attendance on key roll calls and votes with the majority on 90.3% of divided votes; Beale has 99.9% attendance and votes with the majority on 72%, our candidate pages show (39th Ward, 9th Ward). Both voted for the Council's own 2026 revenue plan that left out last year's head tax, which passed 29 to 19 on Dec. 19, 2025 (SO2025-0021719).

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

The math. A budget needs 26 votes when all 50 members vote. The 28 signers are enough to block one; without at least some of them, the Mayor can't reach 26.

Their own races. Nugent is the only candidate who filed in the 39th Ward for February. Beale faces two challengers and an objection to his petitions (our story).

What's next

Johnson's letter to the Council on Tuesday said his team is reworking the head tax's credits and the lease tax increase, without details. We'll report any revised proposal and any committee date set for it.

Sources: Block Club Chicago: City budget hits latest stalemate, Nov. 10, 2026.