Politics
Chicago Officials Make the Case for Funding Youth Programs in 2026 Budget
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal includes a controversial head tax he hopes will generate $100 million to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs in the city.
Under the proposal, more than $58 million would go toward youth programs through the Department of Family and Support Services. Specifically, the budget would allocate $49 million to youth employment programs — creating 19,000 new jobs — with another $5.2 million going toward violence prevention programs. There would also be funding for youth intervention services and My CHI. My Future.
Under Johnson’s head tax proposal, companies with more than 100 employees would need to pay a tax of $21 per employee per month.
Critics believe the tax could stifle business growth and retention within the city, but Angela Green, newly appointed DFSS commissioner, said the tax serves as another way for corporations to invest in the city.
“We know our corporations just received a federal tax break,“ Green said. ”At that same time, we’re seeing many of our families struggle with food insecurity with the SNAP pause and possibly even with health care access. We actually kind of need everyone to join in and support our most vulnerable populations.”
Green said funding these programs is not charity, but rather an investment in the future of the workforce.
“This is a way that our corporations can take part in that,“ Green said. “We need that support. ... It’s really them investing back into the city that has so much promise.”
The DFSS Youth Services Division provides funding for 150 community-based organizations, which together serve more than 108,000 residents, according to a recent report from the city of Chicago.
Through the One Summer Chicago program, DFSS was able to partner with community-based organizations and companies to employ 31,122 young people this summer, offering around 2.8 million hours of work experience and project-based learning.
Kathy Cullick, deputy commissioner of the DFSS Youth Services Division, pointed to recent findings that show overall violent crime is down in the city.
“We have youth that have told us that ... being involved in summer programming, having events to go to that they know are safe with their peers has kept them out of trouble, has given them hope, has given them tools that they feel that they need and can use to help navigate through life,” Cullick said.
Cullick said opportunities to invest in youth put money in the pockets of young people, who often use the money they earn to help their families.
In addition to summer programming, DFSS provides a number of youth support services, Cullick said. The Service Coordination and Navigation (SCaN) program, for example, provides wraparound services that allow people to access employment help, rental assistance and other resources that prevent them from homelessness, violence or crime.
“I know that this is different, and this is new,” Cullick said, “but we really have to think about what the future of our city looks like, what we want it to look like. And being able to provide programs for youth that keep them safe, keep them employed, give them mentorship ... just continues to help our city be the thriving safe community that it can be.”
