Bring Chicago Home referendum being rejected by voters

By Dylan Sharkey

03/19/2024

Chicago voters were giving a thumbs down on the referendum to raise the real estate transfer tax on million-dollar properties known as “Bring Chicago Home,” with 54% voting “no” with 96% of the precincts reporting.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, real estate transfer tax

Illinois Supreme Court: Votes count on ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum

By Dylan Sharkey

03/13/2024

The Illinois Supreme Court rejected a petition to invalidate votes on the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum. Voting ends March 19.

TAGS: Chicago, real estate transfer tax

Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ tax hike could fund Chicago Teachers Union’s contract demands

By Dylan Sharkey

03/13/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is pushing Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate tax hike with cash and by taking students out of school to vote. The heavy push is understandable when CTU mentions the tax hike as a revenue source for their contract demands.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, real estate transfer tax

Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax could hit more than 100 grocery stores

By Dylan Sharkey

03/12/2024

“Bring Chicago Home” would classify more than 100 grocery stores as high-end properties that need to “pay their fair share” if sold. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s rhetoric fails to match his tax hike’s realities.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, real estate transfer tax

Vallas: Johnson can’t be trusted with real estate tax hike

By Paul Vallas

03/12/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax hike comes with no guarantees he won’t use the money for things other than homeless relief. So why should voters believe he won’t hand the money to his cronies at the Chicago Teachers Union?

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, real estate transfer tax

What you need to know about ‘Bring Chicago Home’

By Dylan Sharkey

03/07/2024

Chicago’s March 19 primary election includes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax hike to raise $100 million, dubbed “Bring Chicago Home.” Will higher taxes without a plan help homeless Chicagoans or hurt their job prospects?

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, real estate transfer tax

Appellate decision: Votes on Bring Chicago Home referendum will count

By Dylan Sharkey

03/06/2024

Votes on Chicago’s March 19 referendum will count, according to an Illinois Appellate Court ruling. Now voters must weigh the merits of the real estate transfer tax hike.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, real estate transfer tax

Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax would apply to 5,142 businesses

By Dylan Sharkey

03/04/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and advocates for a hiked real estate transfer tax argue the rich need to pay their fair share, but many local businesses fall in their definition of “rich.”

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, real estate transfer tax

Chicago’s 2020 budget proposal was never truly balanced

By Bill Reveille

11/26/2019

Faced with the impossible task of balancing Chicago’s budget without pension reform, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is forced to partially rely on phantom cuts and revenues.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CAFR: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Chicago City Hall, constitutional amendment, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, deficit, emergency fee, homelessness, housing market, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, interest rates, library, Lori Lightfoot, Lyft, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, real estate, real estate transfer tax, tax hikes, tax increase, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Uber