Framework of new Bears, megaprojects legislation announced

Framework of new Bears, megaprojects legislation announced

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The sponsor of a new plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois says his proposal will prevent local taxing bodies from getting stadium development money off the backs of taxpayers.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, is drafting a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill he hopes to file by the end of this week or early next week.

Ugaste told The Center Square that the bill language will prevent a stadium development’s equalized assessed value from leading to higher property taxes for residents.

“You just don’t remove the portion that allowed it to increase by that much, but you actually put a firm statement in saying it can’t happen,” Ugaste said.

The Geneva Republican said local taxing bodies would not be allowed to use the entire development cost in property tax levies.

“You have to protect the local taxpayers from that or else they end up picking up the tab for something that just isn’t right,” Ugaste said.

If local taxing bodies needed money from the development, Ugaste said they would have the PILOT payment.

“That’s when they get the money. They don’t get it off the backs of other taxpayers,” Ugaste said.

The legislative framework allows for sales tax and revenue bonds, but Ugaste said he was not aware of any potential taxpayer exposure.

“The sales tax revenue generated by the development would go to pay off the bonds in the event of default,” Ugaste said.

The proposal would set thresholds for statewide megaprojects at $500 million and $1 billion, put referendums on the general election ballot and prevent back door bond rollovers.

A spokesperson for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon provided The Center Square with a statement in response.

“We look forward to reviewing the representative’s idea,” said Harmon’s spokesman, John Patterson.

State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said the mayors of Chicago and Arlington Heights have both welcomed the Bears, and lawmakers would like the team to be a good community partner.

“I hope that the Bears choose to stay in Illinois, but we also have to make sure that it’s right for the taxpayers as well,” Ventura told The Center Square on Monday.

Ugaste said he had not talked directly with the Bears, but the team’s challenges and those of other megaprojects show there’s a big property tax problem in Illinois.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Op-Ed: Women deserve protection from the harm of mail-order abortion pills

Op-Ed: Women deserve protection from the harm of mail-order abortion pills

By David Bereit | Life Leadership ConferenceThe Center Square The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally begun reviewing the data on the abortion pill mifepristone’s harms to women....
Minnesota woman pleads guilty to threatening state House speaker

Minnesota woman pleads guilty to threatening state House speaker

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A Minnesota woman has pleaded guilty to threatening Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth after leaving a series of violent voicemails earlier this year. Rachel Marie...
Illinois lawmaker, husband indicted over alleged kickback scheme

Illinois lawmaker, husband indicted over alleged kickback scheme

By Sean ReedThe Center Square An Illinois state representative faces multiple counts of wire fraud and providing a false statement, according to a federal indictment released Tuesday night. State Rep....
Border Patrol warns of rideshare human smuggling risks in El Paso

Border Patrol warns of rideshare human smuggling risks in El Paso

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Border Patrol in far west Texas is warning rideshare drivers about human smugglers using rideshare apps to organize illegal smuggling activity. In the U.S....
Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices show slight uptick as US military action resumes

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices show slight uptick as US military action resumes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinoisans will be watching gas prices after the United States launched new military strikes against Iran on...
Maine Democrats lining up to replace Platner in Senate race

Maine Democrats lining up to replace Platner in Senate race

By Chris WadeThe Center Square Top Maine Democrats are being groomed as replacements for disgraced U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has yet to abandon his floundering candidacy amid damaging...
Trump: U.S. to 'probably' strike Iran tonight; oil prices rise

Trump: U.S. to ‘probably’ strike Iran tonight; oil prices rise

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the United States will "probably" strike Iran again on Wednesday night, after casting doubt on the ceasefire between the two countries....
Class action vs Apple over Face ID scans seeks to unlock big payout

Class action vs Apple over Face ID scans seeks to unlock big payout

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Apple has been hit with another class action lawsuit under Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law, this time accusing the tech giant of...
Another fatal ICE shooting, this time in Houston

Another fatal ICE shooting, this time in Houston

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Another fatal immigration enforcement shooting has occurred, this time in Houston. The victim was a Mexican national in the country illegally, U.S. Immigration and Customs...
Census shows Illinois under-20 population declining faster than national average

Census shows Illinois under-20 population declining faster than national average

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed Illinois has seen outsized shifts in its population...
U.S. launches 'powerful strikes' against Iran, halts oil sales

U.S. launches ‘powerful strikes’ against Iran, halts oil sales

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The United States on Tuesday launched a "series of powerful strikes" against Iran in response to attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz....
Trump praises Erdoğan, pressures Europe on NATO and defense

Trump praises Erdoğan, pressures Europe on NATO and defense

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump remained icy toward key European leaders at the NATO Summit Tuesday, though he had nothing but good things to say about Turkish...
Installation of Big Bend border wall set for August in Texas

Installation of Big Bend border wall set for August in Texas

By Robert MattesonThe Center Square U.S. Customs and Border Protection is preparing to begin border wall panel installation in Texas’ Big Bend region, part of which borders Big Bend Ranch...
Chicago mayor to Trump: “Consider this a call”

Chicago mayor to Trump: “Consider this a call”

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling on President Donald Trump to fight violence the mayor’s way. During...
Chicago aldermen latest calling for US attorney's ouster over 'Broadview Six' case

Chicago aldermen latest calling for US attorney’s ouster over ‘Broadview Six’ case

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A federal prosecutor in Illinois is facing additional calls for his resignation this week by public officials,...