All Six Chicago Advisory Referendums Pass: Millionaire Tax Draws 80% Support, None Binding
Unofficial returns released November 4 showed Chicago voters approving all six advisory questions on the November 3 ballot, each with at least 67% support — though none of the six is legally binding and none changes any law or spending by itself. Restarting gunshot-detection technology passed with 72.55%, a permanent festival grounds question drew the lowest support at 67.64%, a school-board version of a millionaire tax won 80.42% and the Cook County version 79.67%, a vacant-lot penalty tax drew 73.67%, and a question on seeking compensation over the Midway Blitz immigration operation drew the highest support at 84.78%. The count covered 1,212 of 1,291 precincts; mail ballots arriving by November 17 can still be counted, but the margins make reversals unlikely.
Mayor Brandon Johnson ended the city's gunshot-detection contract in September 2024. Because the votes are advisory, the real budget fight remains in the City Council: the city faces an $882 million deficit, and the mayor's proposed $17.6 billion budget for 2027 relies on a corporate head tax similar to one aldermen rejected last year. The council must decide by year-end; the next binding vote is the municipal election on February 23, 2027.
Source: City of Chicago Mayor's Office
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Photo: 图：芝加哥市政厅。GSM 固定图库（城市包）。 / Photo: Chicago City Hall. GSM asset library (cities pack).
