CHICAGO (Aug. 29, 2019) – Adam Schuster, director of budget and tax research for the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, offered the following statement in response to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s “State of the City” address:

“Mayor Lightfoot is correct to focus on growing the economy, stopping population loss and closing budget gaps. We applaud her for recognizing the size of Illinois’ fiscal problems and demanding structural change.

“There is simply no way for Lightfoot to balance a budget gap this large without pension reform. A constitutional amendment that protects already-earned benefits while allowing for changes to future benefits would benefit both Chicago taxpayers and retirees. Other paths – whether a reckless bailout of local pension debt from a state that cannot afford it, or extreme tax hikes at the local level – are unsustainable and will continue to force families away from Chicago and Illinois.

“Until state and local lawmakers partner to pass true pension reform, Illinoisans will continue to see higher property taxes across the state.”

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