* As you probably know, a group of Chicago alderpersons proposed a competing budget idea to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fiscal plan yesterday. Click here for the synopsis. The proposal makes $441.4 million in adjustments including eliminating the mayor’s $100 million corporate “head tax,” restoring $139.9 million in advance pension payments and funding $166 million in firefighter back pay without borrowing.

The council proposal includes $441.4 million in revenue sources. The greatest single amount, $150 million - about a third of the entire proposal - is an undefined “Improved Debt Collections” line.

* It’s not at all clear how the city is supposed to do that. It has had real trouble for decades collecting debt, much of which is deemed uncollectible.

The idea was mentioned briefly and mostly down deep in some news stories. Tribune…

The aldermen’s budget also relies on a number of untested ideas: $26 million to come from licensing city property for “augmented reality” advertisements, $150 million from “improved debt collection” and $31.6 million from improved revenue projections based on data released Friday.

Crain’s…

The $441 million replacement package includes at least $153 million in new or increased taxes, a staggering $150 million in improved one-year debt collections and $31.6 million from an improved revenue forecast.

WTTW…

The alternative plan calls for the city to collect $150 million more in debt from residents than the mayor’s plan projects, and urges the city to increase its estimates on tax revenue collection by $31.6 million, saying the mayor’s plan is too conservative.

ABC 7…

The alternative budget includes over $90 million worth of efficiencies and $150 million in debt collections.

Discuss.