Chicago proposes funding tax rebates with salaries from vacant city jobs

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Five Chicago aldermen have proposed new property tax rebates to be funded by salaries for vacant city jobs.

Alderman Raymond Lopez filed the ordinance last Wednesday, joined by Aldermen Anthony Beale, James Gardiner, Anthony Napolitano and Brendan Reilly.

Under the proposal, each residential property owner could apply once a year for a $500 rebate on each property. Each owner of a non-residential property could apply for a $1,500 rebate once per year.

Thomas Brosy, senior research associate at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said many Chicago residents have experienced large, unexpected increases.

“I would say there is a case for maybe some sort of targeted relief that would look at residents that struggle to pay their property tax bills or residents that have experienced some of the largest increases in property taxes,” Brosy told The Center Square.

Brosy expressed concern that there could be administrative costs associated with the proposal.

The ordinance calls for the city comptroller to administer the rebate program in coordination with the city council’s finance committee.

Lopez said in a social media post that the program would be funded by $166 million allocated to the salaries of vacant positions.

Brosy wondered why the positions have not been filled.

“Is it because the city doesn’t actually need those jobs? Is it because they will need them, but not right now, in a few months or a few years? Maybe they’re trying to find the right people to fill those positions,” Brosy suggested.

Brosy said it would be unusual for a mayor or other government executive to relinquish control over potential hiring.

“Even if those positions aren’t needed right now, the executive might want to have the flexibility to use those funds to hire people they deem necessary in the near future,” Brosy said.

The ordinance cites the continuing existence of a city hiring freeze implemented by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration last summer.

The mayor’s office did not immediately reply to The Center Square’s request for comment.