# Gov. Pritzker again says no to Johnson's head tax as the Mayor pitches it on the West Side. Where the Council's votes stand

*The governor said the $25-a-month tax per worker sends employers a signal not to hire. Johnson's office says state law limits what else the City can tax. Last December, 29 alderpersons voted for a budget without it.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Nov 1, 2026

Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that he still opposes Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed head tax on Chicago's largest employers. "I do not think that is a great way to provide revenue for the city," he said after an unrelated news conference in West Englewood, adding that the tax "sends a signal" to employers, the [Chicago Tribune reported](https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/10/29/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-again-takes-dim-view-of-chicago-mayors-head-tax-plan/192854/). He told [The Center Square](https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1aca490d-657a-431a-a787-9b737a86aaed.html) it is "the most direct signal to employers: don't hire more people."

The same day, Johnson defended the tax at a "Fair Share" budget town hall on the West Side. He said his plan doesn't raise property taxes and that he wants businesses to "pay their fair share because it's good for everyone," [ABC7 Chicago reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-defends-proposed-17-billion-2027-budget-west-side-fair-share-townhall/19997891/).

Why it matters: the governor doesn't vote on the City budget, but the Council does, and the head tax is the piece of Johnson's $17.6 billion plan that a majority of alderpersons has already rejected once. If it comes out, the money it would raise has to be replaced or cut.

## The Mayor's response

Johnson spokesperson Griffin Krueger said the plan's tax credit "is designed to incentivize job growth and economic development in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities," and that "state law severely limits the City's ability to levy increased taxes on corporations," according to the Tribune. He said the Mayor appreciates the governor's support for a statewide millionaires' tax. A question on that idea is on Tuesday's ballot, [as we explain here](/on-my-block/chicago-ward-ballot-questions-november-3-corporate-tax-south-works-statue).

## What our records add

**What the tax is.** The head tax is written into the [2027 Revenue Ordinance](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029643-titles-2-3-4-9-10) (O2026-0029643) as the "Chicago Employers' Expense Tax": $25 a month for each full-time worker at employers with 125 or more, starting Jan. 1, 2027, with a full credit for workers based mostly in designated disadvantaged areas. The Mayor's office expects about $101 million from it, [CBS Chicago reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-2027-budget-townhall/). Our [Oct. 23 story](/on-my-block/chicago-head-tax-2027-employers-expense-tax-seed-credit) has the details.

**Last year's vote.** On Dec. 19, 2025, the Council passed an [alternative 2026 revenue ordinance](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021719-titles-1-3-4-7-8) that left out last year's version of the tax, 29 to 19.

How each ward voted: [SO2025-0021719](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021719-titles-1-3-4-7-8)

**Voted for the plan without the head tax (29):** Hopkins (2), Dowell (3), Yancy (5), Mitchell (7), Harris (8), Beale (9), Chico (10), Lee (11), Quinn (13), Lopez (15), Curtis (18), O'Shea (19), Mosley (21), Tabares (23), Scott (24), Cruz (30), Cardona (31), Waguespack (32), Conway (34), Villegas (36), Mitts (37), Sposato (38), Nugent (39), Napolitano (41), Reilly (42), Knudsen (43), Lawson (44), Gardiner (45), Silverstein (50).

**Voted no (19):** La Spata (1), Robinson (4), Hall (6), Ramirez (12), Gutiérrez (14), Moore (17), Taylor (20), Rodriguez (22), Sigcho-López (25), Fuentes (26), Burnett (27), Ervin (28), Taliaferro (29), Rodríguez Sánchez (33), Quezada (35), Clay (46), Martin (47), Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Hadden (49).

This year, 29 alderpersons signed a September letter saying they would not support a head tax, [CBS reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-city-council-letter-2027-budget-demands-mayor-brandon-johnson/). Passing a budget takes 26 votes, or 25 plus the Mayor's tie-breaking vote, the Tribune noted.

**Another piece in play Monday.** At a special meeting Monday, the Council takes up an ordinance that would send the $75 million parking meter payment to the pension funds by Dec. 31 instead of counting it toward the 2027 plan. Together with the head tax, that's roughly $176 million of the Mayor's plan that depends on votes he hasn't secured. [What the ordinance now says](/on-my-block/parking-meter-75-million-ordinance-updated-fixed-pension-shares-special-meeting).

## What's next

- **Mon., Nov. 2, 10 a.m.:** the special Council meeting on the meter money.
- **Wed., Nov. 4:** budget hearings resume after the election, on the Budget Committee's [schedule](/on-my-block/chicago-budget-hearings-schedule-department-by-department-2027).
- **Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m.:** the Council's formal public hearing on the budget ([R2026-0029546](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029546-time-fixed-public-hearing-2027-executive)).
- **Dec. 31:** the deadline to pass a 2027 budget.


## Legislation in this story

- [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 14B, 14X and 15 (2026 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance Alternative)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021719-titles-1-3-4-7-8) (SO2025-0021719)

## Sources

1. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021719: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 14B, 14X and 15 (2026 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance Alternative)](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=39036309-ECD5-F011-8543-001DD8018EAF)
2. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021719, Legislation: NEW UPDATED SO2025-0021719 Substitute Ordinance 2.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/27253856-496b-4f12-81be-4d69dddfcc7a.pdf)
3. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021719, Legislation: UPDATED Substitute Ordinance SO2025-0021719.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/9860dd46-7fc7-4a91-9ed1-9abd5ca83301.pdf)
4. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021719, Committee Letter: SO2025-0021719 C.L..pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/a6de8bc2-64b9-4280-81f2-4f564575b881.pdf)
5. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021719, Legislation: O2025-0021719 Revenue Ordinance.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/dc392f47-b5c4-4514-8b9f-679c93011ee7.pdf)
6. City of Chicago: [City Council, Dec 19, 2025: meeting video](https://vimeo.com/1147756540)
7. City Clerk: [City Council, Dec 19, 2025: Agenda](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/53e4dd02-fec2-4762-b368-34b24a23eaca.pdf)
8. City Clerk: [City Council, Dec 19, 2025: Notice](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/f47bf8a5-b0da-f011-8543-001dd80c6da5.pdf)
9. cpapracticeadvisor.com: [Chicago Tribune reported](https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/10/29/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-again-takes-dim-view-of-chicago-mayors-head-tax-plan/192854/)
10. thecentersquare.com: [The Center Square](https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1aca490d-657a-431a-a787-9b737a86aaed.html)
11. ABC7: [ABC7 Chicago reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-defends-proposed-17-billion-2027-budget-west-side-fair-share-townhall/19997891/)
12. CBS News: [CBS Chicago reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-2027-budget-townhall/)
13. CBS News: [CBS reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-city-council-letter-2027-budget-demands-mayor-brandon-johnson/)
14. Chicago Politics: [SO2025-0021719: votes, timeline and summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021719-titles-1-3-4-7-8)
15. Chicago Politics: [City Council, Dec 19, 2025: transcript](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1147756540.txt)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/pritzker-head-tax-johnson-fair-share-town-hall-council-votes-2027-budget · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt