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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.
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