Daley's Dictionary

Abatement:

• noun.
• Diminution in amount, degree, or intensity; moderation.
• The amount lowered; a reduction.
• Law. The act of eliminating or annulling.

Abatement, Chicago-style:

• Concerned about a political backlash from struggling homeowners, Mayor Daley tried Tuesday to portray a $43 million property tax increase for Chicago Public Schools as an “abatement.”

  That’s because his handpicked school officials wanted to raise property taxes by the maximum allowed by the property tax cap, as they have for 11 of the 14 years since Daley’s school takeover.

  Instead, the mayor demanded that they cut the increase in half.

So since he's only screwing you half as hard, that's an "abatement." And note that the schools have asked for the maximum increase in 11 of 14 years. What have we received for the taxpayers largesse? One of the worst educational systems in the world with crumbling infrastructure that bleeds money like a stuck pig. And teachers who receive pay raises regardless of the product turned out. At least the police have been reducing crime according to the statistics the City releases - where's our raise?