ORDINANCE
ALDERMANIC AND EXECUTIVE SALARY REDUCTION
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government as defined in Article VII, Section 6 (a) of the Illinois Constitution, and, as such, may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2015 the Mayor of the City of Chicago called for a property tax increase that may amount to a sixty percent increase over the City's 2014 levy; and
WHEREAS, a drastic property tax increase of this amount imperils the financial well-being of many residents;
WHEREAS, property taxes are intended as partial payment for city services, it would follow that an increase in property tax would not correspond with a decrease in city services,
WHEREAS, officials and employees of City Council owe a fiduciary duty to the City of Chicago and its residents under Chapter 2-156-020 the Governmental Ethics Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the mismanagement of city funds and failure to pay into pension funds have directly caused a budget shortfall estimated at $754 million dollars to be paid in part by the proposed property tax increase; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Purpose: Relation to other Ordinances.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide a salary cut correspondent to any percentage increase over the 2014 Average Tax Rate (ATR) of 6.81% for all City Hall officials and employees earning more than $100,000.00 annually. A further salary cut would occur in any percentage by which the funds to City Services may be cut. To the extent that the provisions of this Ordinance conflict with any prior Ordinance or provision of the City, this Ordinance shall control.
Section 2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this Ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:
"Official" means any person elected or appointed to any office of the City of Chicago earning an annual salary equal to or above $100,000.00.
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