Mayor Brandon Johnson is all but giving up on his proposed $300 million property tax hike before aldermen kill it, and pushing them to find other revenue in its place to avert layoffs. Johnson’s administration is combing over alternatives to the tax jump after members of the City Council scheduled a special meeting in the hopes of voting it down.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said his proposed 4 percent increase was just a play to increase engagement on the city’s budget.

Dozens of aldermen called for a special meeting to vote down the mayor's proposed $300 million property tax increase.

Alders are expected to vote Thursday to reject Mayor Brandon Johnson's $300 million property tax hike, aimed at closing a $1 billion gap in the city's budget. Why it matters: The hike would boost taxes by 4.