Chicagoans will not see an increase in property taxes this year -- but they also won't see an increase in trees, Mayor Daley said today.
In response to budget constraints, the Mayor today announced a one-year moratorium on several city beautification efforts, including one of his signature initiatives, tree planting.
"We have an obligation to do more with less," Daley said at the City Club, adding "other increases and service cuts are still on the table."
Daley, who was introduced to a standing ovation, says he's asked his staff to "transform the structure of government - smaller in size, but greater in performance."
"We're living in austere times," he said, before mentioning that he's asked vendors "to cut the cost of their contracts by 10 percent."
