Voter information on Chicago’s real estate transfer tax hike
March 19 primary ballots ask Chicago voters whether they support Mayor Brandon Johnson's real estate transfer tax hike. While he and 'Bring Chicago Home' advocates claim money will help homeless Chicagoans, there is reason to worry about hurting 5,143 commercial properties with no guarantee how this 'mansion tax' will be used.
Near the bottom of the March 19 primary ballot is a voter question about raising the tax on sales of property in excess of $1 million. There is a lot of misinformation about what the tax hike would or would not do. Here are some articles to help voters separate the facts and fiction before they vote.
What you need to know about ‘Bring Chicago Home’
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?
Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax would apply to 5,142 businesses
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.”
Mr. Beef from ‘The Bear’ is a mansion, according to Chicago mayor’s tax plan
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants voters to raise the city’s tax on million-dollar property sales, which would include any sale on a restaurant such as Mr. Beef, the inspiration for the hit show “The Bear.”
Chicago labor unions refuse to back mayor’s ‘mansion tax’
Fears of what it would do to Chicago’s housing market and economy led a group of Chicago trade unions to refuse to endorse Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to increase a city tax on real estate sales.
Vallas: Call Johnson’s real estate transfer tax what it really is: a commercial property tax
Brandon Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ transaction tax is primarily a tax on the already overburdened and depressed commercial property owners.
Chicago Teachers Union taking students out of class to vote for Johnson’s real estate tax hike
The event, which is taking place on March 15, likely violates school district rules that make clear students can’t attend a political event during school hours. Staff activity in such an event also likely violates the CPS Code of Ethics.
Illinois Policy Institute ethics complaint: Chicago Teachers Union pushing students to vote for Johnson tax hike
The following is an ethics complaint from the Illinois Policy Institute filed March 11 with the Chicago Public Schools ethics office and inspector general.
Chicago Teachers Union is No. 3 funder of Johnson’s tax hike proposal
The Chicago Teachers Union funneled at least $200,000 into the ballot question Mayor Brandon Johnson claims will raise taxes to help the homeless. With no plan on how the money will reduce homelessness, it could become a slush fund for his CTU friends.
The Policy Shop: The Chicago Teachers Union’s new tax-grabbing power play
While the new contract demands from the Chicago Teachers Union talks about helping homeless students through the “Bring Chicago Home” tax proposal, first they talk about getting housing assistance for teachers making a median of over $93,000.
Brandon Johnson’s ‘mansion tax’ would likely hurt Chicago renters
Mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson seeks to triple the real estate transfer tax on real estate valued at $1 million or more. That would include apartment complexes. In Los Angeles, a similar tax has hurt housing.
Vallas: Mayor Johnson should learn from LA that ‘mansion tax’ is a failure
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mansion tax idea failed in Los Angeles, something his recent trip there should have shown him. Here’s why it promises to drag down Chicago businesses in an already hostile environment and shift costs to homeowners.
Chicago City Council puts ‘mansion tax’ on March 2024 ballot
The Chicago City Council is asking voters on the March 2024 ballot to approve or reject a tax increase on the sale of $1 million properties. The move will mainly hit commercial properties, adding to Chicago’s anti-business reputation.
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