Springfield Update: Tell Lawmakers to Prioritize Working Families Over Ultra-Wealthy Real Estate Developers
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Throughout the spring, IFT members have been in motion to demand full funding for schools and state agencies. We have demonstrated our need for taxing the ultra-wealthy. Based on what happened last night in the Illinois House, we need to continue.
THE REPORT: LARGER CLASS SIZES AND LOWER STAFFING COULD BE COMING TO A SCHOOL NEAR YOU
If a homeowner builds a garage or mother-in-law quarters, their property value goes up and their property taxes are likely to go up that same year. But if a sports owner builds a new stadium, or a company breaks ground on a new car factory, their property taxes won’t go up for as much as 40 years under the bill passed last night.
The House passed a bill that gives tax breaks to real estate developers of “megaprojects,” which means either our classrooms and special education students get less, neighbors and families pay more, or both.
Meanwhile, the House did NOT vote on increasing funding to schools that would be paid for by those who make more than $1 million a year.
THE LESSON: OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED US TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM
Ask anyone in Cook County what happens when big developments are misassessed or exempted from property tax. Like what’s happened in downtown Chicago, working families on the South and West sides of the city pay more, way more.
When mega projects have their valuation frozen, it explicitly cuts off resources to school districts. Despite that fact, school superintendents and school boards were mum and sat out of the debate in the House instead of advocating for their students.
At the same time, the federal government is taking money from the budgets of the Dept. of Education, Medicaid, and other critical agencies that our students and families depend on to give the highest earners in our state $8 billion in annual tax breaks.
That’s why we need to talk with our parents, school superintendents, and local school boards to understand what they stand to lose if this bill becomes law.
Educators know that lessons are adapted, adjusted, and improved. Bills and state budgets are no different. Yesterday’s vote and non-vote are not the final word.
The IFT has been a leader - and we will continue to be - on working with lawmakers to equitably fund our schools, universities, and services. The fact that there was even a possibility of a vote on the millionaires’ tax was because of the IFT. Even before yesterday’s developments, the IFT supported a number of ways to tax the rich and raise billions for the things we need: ending “luxury loopholes” that allow Illinois billionaires to pay a lower tax rate than you do, taxing digital ads that no one likes, ending special deals that allow corporations to hide their income, and taking back Trump tax cuts from companies that don’t need them. Those measures are even more important today.
THE HOMEWORK
April 27th Statewide Webinar: Join IFT and Senator Rob Martwick for a statewide webinar on legislative developments and the need for full funding on Monday, April 27th at 6:30pm.
Make a plan to meet with your district’s school board to prevent the megaprojects bill (HB 910) from cutting off extremely necessary resources to public education and raising property taxes for everyone but mega developers.
Turn Out for May Day: Talk with your colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors and turn out for a May Day event near you. There are at least 25 across the state - find the nearest one here. The country is standing up for each other, our students, and our democracy next Friday. It’s our time to show up.
We have until May 31st to make sure the state legislature and governor fund the schools and workplaces we need. It’s time to get to work.
