CHICAGO -- With Mayor Brandon Johnson's planned property tax hike failing, he has to find the money somewhere to balance the nearly $1 billion budget deficit.One idea for a source for that money is taxing liquor sales even more. And many in the hospitality industry are not happy about that idea at all.
They're blaming me the restaurant owner—that it's my fault because I increased it,' said Morgan. 'But I have no choice. If I don't increase it, we go out of business.'The Distilled Spirits Council, a national lobby group, said Chicago already has some of the highest taxes on distilled spirits at $13.73 a gallon.'Consumers are going to end up footing the bill,' said Ainsley Giglierano, vice president of public affairs for the Distilled Spirits Council.