* We have new Bears/megaprojects bill language. Check out the long list of nine percent admission and transaction taxes within Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bond districts…

The corporate authorities of any political subdivision that has established a STAR bond district under this Act may, by ordinance or resolution, impose a visitor investment surcharge upon all admission and charges from transactions at places of business located within the STAR bond district, at a rate not to exceed 9% of the gross receipts derived from any admission and charge within the STAR bond district, to be imposed only in 0.25% increments to pay for eligible project cost. The charge imposed under this subsection and all civil penalties that may be assessed as an incident thereof shall be collected and enforced by the political subdivision. For purposes of this Section, “visitor investment surcharges” includes, but is not limited to: (1) charges for admission to or rental of any physical space or venue in which attendees gather for entertainment or amusement, including, but not limited to, facilities owned or operated by users, destination hotels, amusement parks, hotels, entertainment venues, or traditional retailers, resorts, golf or pickle ball type facilities, simulator type facilities, music venues, water parks, RV parks, surf parks, ice rinks, family entertainment type facilities, zip line courses, wake boarding courses, miniature golf courses, go-cart tracks or facilities, arcades and other venues designed for the playing of video games, pinball machines, air-hockey, billiards tables, or other games operated by coins or other payment methods, theaters, trade shows and convention centers, and athletic stadiums or venues for the hosting of any athletic contest; and (2) any separate charge for admission or rental to or use of entertainment attractions, rides, or other activities within the aforementioned venues. The provisions of this subsection (c-10) are not subject to subsection (d) of this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the visitor investment surcharge under this subsection (c-10) may not be imposed on receipts from transactions that, at the time the surcharge is established, are taxable under the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, or the Service Occupation Tax Act.

Money raised from the taxes would be used to finance some infrastructure projects at the sites, as would the revenue from the normal sales taxes. The Bears site is *not yet* included in this.

…Adding… Right now, the way the bill is drafted, the entertainment district surrounding the stadium site is not eligible for a STAR bond site. But there could be another amendment soon that clarifies this. I thought they’d already changed it, but they hadn’t. Sorry.