With Chicago facing an expected budget shortfall of nearly $1 billion next year, Mayor Brandon Johnson has unveiled his proposed 2025 budget. The plan not only reneges on the progressive's campaign pledge to not raise property taxes but also includes a steep hike on alcohol taxes.
Independent liquor stores will bear the brunt of Johnson's liquor tax. These small businesses are primarily immigrant-owned and are located in predominantly minority-populated neighborhoods of the Windy City. At the same time, Chicago continues to indulge in a decades-long spending spree that prioritizes everything from teacher pensions and art classes to fancy government office renovations.
