Votes to be counted for ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum, Illinois Appellate Court rules
CHICAGO — An Illinois Appellate Court ruled Wednesday that the controversial “Bring Chicago Home” referendum is valid and will remain on the ballot for the upcoming March 19 primary.
The decision overturns a Cook County judge’s ruling on Feb. 23, which would have barred votes.
Chicago voters will now decide whether the city can raise a real estate transfer tax on properties worth more than $1 million. The initial ruling on the matter sided with real estate groups and property owners who opposed the increased tax.
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The revenue generated from an increased tax on 7-figure properties would help to fund long-term financial support to fight homelessness. The “Bring Chicago Home” proposal seeks to raise more than $100 million to pay for homelessness prevention in the city.
“We’re so grateful that the appellate judge passed this ruling today and we can move forward,” said Maxica Williams, chair of the End Homelessness Ballot Initiative Committee and board president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, who applauded the ruling. “The wealthy need to pay their fair share, and that’s all we’re asking.”
Our longstanding coalition of policy advocates, service providers, labor unions, and homeless and formerly homeless people commend the judges of the First District Appellate Court for dismissing the real estate lobby’s effort to invalidate Ballot Question 1. We look forward to keeping up our efforts to reach hundreds of thousands of voters about their opportunity to vote ‘yes’ for a fair and sustainable plan to fund housing, care for the homeless, and ask wealthy real estate corporations to pay their fair share.”
Statement issued by Maxica Williams with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless after the ruling
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Battle continues over ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum ahead of March 19 primary election
“That dedicated funding stream will trickle down to affordable housing being built and try to salvage the homes on the city’s South and West sides that are inhabitable,” Williams adds, “as well as wrap-around services that are essential to the homeless population.”
The city’s current real estate transfer tax is a flat 0.75% on all property sales. The “Bring Chicago Home” proposal would decrease taxes for properties sold for under a million dollars. However, properties sold between one and one-and-a-half million dollars would be taxed at 2%. More expensive properties would be taxed at 3%.
With the question reinstated on the ballot, Williams hopes Chicagoans will take into consideration that the proposal is more than about money.
“We are talking about homelessness, and it’s about housing, and housing in a just society is a human right,” she said.
Max Bever, the director of public information for the Chicago Board of Elections, also praised the court’s decision:
This afternoon, the Illinois Appellate Court reinstated the citywide referendum question to the March 19 primary ballot in Chicago. The initial judgment of the Circuit Court of Cook County is vacated, and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
All votes cast for the citywide question will be counted and reported by the Chicago Board of Elections on election night, March 19.”
Max Bever, Director of Public Information, Chicago Board of Elections
However, the decision was slammed by Jeff Baker, the CEO of Illinois REALTORS:
“As we’ve said since the trial court’s decision, this harmful measure remains on the ballot, and we haven’t stopped trying to educate voters,” Baker stated. “Those who are suffering from housing instability deserve a plan.
“Property owners and renters in our city, already facing increasing costs and one of the highest real estate tax burdens in the country, deserve better. This ballot proposal is just a property tax increase on everyone and will hurt the city’s ability to address homelessness effectively.”
Miguel Chacon, with the Neighborhood Builders Alliance, told WGN News that he was disappointed by Wednesday’s order, adding that the impact would be felt by local housing providers, potential home buyers and renters. The Neighborhood Builders Alliance was one of the real estate and development groups that sued the Chicago Board of Elections, arguing that the referendum question was misleading and unconstitutional.
But Wednesday’s ruling is a significant victory for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has said the extra revenue would help the city’s unhoused population.
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“As we have said from the beginning, and as the Appellate Court agreed today, this was always a question wisely left to the voters of Chicago,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am pleased that Chicagoans will have the opportunity to weigh in on ‘Bring Chicago Home,’ which is intended to provide a dedicated revenue source to combat homelessness.”
I encourage all Chicagoans to make their voices heard by voting in this election.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
“I’ve said all along that the people of Chicago should determine how we address the unhoused crises in Chicago,” Mayor Johnson added.
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