Voters do not want to increase taxes on behalf of irresponsible leaders who created their own financial problems and are looking for easy outs. Chicago’s voters proved that yet again.

Chicago voters appear to have voted down a ballot initiative called “Bring Chicago Home,” 54%-46% with 96% reporting. The proposal, backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, would have the city raise real estate transfer taxes on properties worth more than $1 million, supposedly to put toward addressing homelessness. The plan wasn’t much of a plan at all — Johnson didn’t even outline how the city would spend the revenue from that project.

Despite the backing of Johnson and politically active progressive union workers, teachers, and homeless “advocates,” the plan is on track to lose in a city that backed Johnson in 2023 by 5 percentage points, over another Democrat, and resides in a county that backs Democrats by a 3-to-1 margin.

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Why doesn’t Chicago just use some of its other billions to address the problem? Just a few months ago, the city approved Johnson’s budget of $16.6 billion. But Chicago is burning through money on illegal immigrants whom Johnson invited to the city by supporting its sanctuary city policy. Johnson has already been whining for more money in federal aid to deal with the surge in illegal immigrants. Voters are no doubt rightfully concerned that this money would be redirected too, along with the other consequences that would accompany the tax increase.

Chicago is in a financial dilemma of its own making, thanks to the decisions of its political leaders including Johnson and the city council. Leaching more money from residents to throw into the furnace isn’t exactly something voters are willing to do for leaders who have proven as incompetent as Chicago’s have. It is hard to blame voters for feeling that way.