48th Ward Ald. Harry Osterman expressed his worry over Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed property tax increase in an email sent out to residents this week. That proposed increase would bring in $588 million over the next four years.

If the mayor wins approval on the tax hikes, $543 million would be used to take care of the underfunded police and fire pension funds. The other $45 million would go to Chicago Public Schools construction. He is also proposing a monthly garbage-hauling fee, increases in building permit fees, new taxes on electronic cigarettes and new taxes on ride-sharing and taxi trips.

In the email sent out by Ald. Osterman, he expressed his feelings about the possible tax increase saying, “I’m very concerned about the magnitude of the proposed property tax and the effect it would have on renters, homeowners and small businesses in our community. My City Council colleagues and I will be spending the next month going through the budget process, and we will be working together to look for alternative ways to increase revenue to fund city government and provide important city services.”

The alderman added that the mayor also plans on continued expansion of after-school programming and reassignment of more than 300 police officers currently performing desk jobs back to street patrol duty.

Ald. Osterman will be holding a series of Town Hall meetings in October which will start with a “state of the ward” presentation, followed by a significant time for Q&A on any subject, including the budget. The meetings are as follows:

• 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Unity Lutheran Church, 1212 W. Balmoral Ave.
• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Senn High School, 5900 N. Glenwood Ave.
• 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Somerset Place Apartments, 5009 N. Sheridan Road
• 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road

Tags: 48th Ward, Alderman Osterman, Andersonville, Chicago, edgeville, Edgewater, pensions, tax, tax increase

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