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Unclear on the concept or just more Chicago bashing?

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Rauner and Durkin kept the attack on Democrat J.B. Pritzker, bringing up his property tax issues in Chicago where Pritzker is now paying back $330,000 in property tax benefits he received after a mansion he owned had its toilets removed and was deemed uninhabitable. The inspector general called the removal of the toilets a “scheme to defraud taxpayers.”

“That’s stealing money from all of the people of Illinois, all of you. When his property taxes go down, Chicago schools have to get their money so the rest of us chip in through our income taxes to make up the difference. That’s fraud, that’s stealing.”

Um, what?

The schools do have to “get their money,” but that means the tax burden is shifted to other property taxpayers, not statewide income taxpayers.

He has to know this, right?

Sounds to me like classic Rauner. It’s a twofer. He blasts Pritzker for “stealing” and makes Downstate folks think they’re paying Chicago’s freight.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:41 pm

Comments

===He has to know this, right?===

Lol. He knows. He’s just lyin’.

Was he laughing?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:43 pm
That same Cook County Inspector General watched Berrios play with the tax appeal attorneys scams without saying a word causing inequitable tax rates throughout the County.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:50 pm
I’d explain the Rauner statement as this;

Pritzker and Rauner are polling in a statistical dead heat in the downstate region.

By me knowing that, well, the context of what was said, why it was said, and “where” it was said… by Rauner… I don’t need to go too deep into the psyche of Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:50 pm
=Sounds to me like classic Rauner. It’s a twofer. He blasts Pritzker for “stealing” and makes Downstate folks think they’re paying Chicago’s freight.=

BINGO.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:51 pm
The spaghetti’s really flyin’ lately: illegal immigrants, Medicaid expansion, unions, race, taxes. It’s almost dizzying trying to keep up with the “stuff” Rauner’s throwin’ against the wall.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:55 pm
Re-valuing Pritzker mansion lowers the total EAV for Chicago.

Chicago’s EAV computes into the state formula and is a factor showing Chicago’s need.

So if that property wealth is missing from the formula then in a way the state probably makes it up.

Like when Chicago has a lot of TIF value not in the formula.

Or something like that. Probably.

Comment by Maybe Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:56 pm
Rauner must be confused. He takes credit for “education reform” that sends more downstate income tax money to Chicago schools.

More downstate income tax money to Chicago schools because of his education reform bill. Yeah, Rauner is just confused, that must be it.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:57 pm
I voted for JB (among others) at the SIUC student center today, and no kidding, it was cloudy when I went in and was turning sunny when I came out. Felt good.

Comment by LXB Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:06 pm
== He has to know this, right? ==

Campaigns are fact free zones.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:08 pm
Don’t read too much into it. I think it’s more of the tired and wrong “CPS is such a tax eater that any Chicago funding out = more downstate money in” rhetoric from the EBF Wars.

Comment by Conn Smythe Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:13 pm
LXB

I agree, it felt really good. I had never voted early, but then I have never had this much contempt for a candidate. I have a feeling this sentiment is not isolated. He is not a likable man.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:18 pm
“He has to know this, right?”

Perhaps Rauner said “That’s fraud” in reference to his falsehood in the preceding sentence.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Is it worse that Rauner lies or that Durkin stands there and does nothing?

Comment by Former Downstater Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:23 pm
All,

@Maybe 3:56 is correct.

For the money CPS asks in property taxes there is a shift to other property owners when a person gets a break on their property taxes. The assessed value decreases but the amount that CPS gets does not decrease. It gets shifted to everyone else. This is called the local effort as it relates to the state funding formula.

But what Rauner said was correct. When the assessed value goes down the local effort (i.e. assessed value) it effects the education funding formula. If there is less local effort then the state back fills what is owed to CPS through income taxes. I am way simplifying this but the Governor is correct.

Comment by Nagidam Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:37 pm
=== I am way simplifying this but the Governor is correct.===

I don’t think so. CPS passes a budget of say, X.X billion. Chicago property tax payers divide up the local portion of the X.X billion budget based on assessed valuation. If I receive a property tax deduction, that only changes how much I pay, and CPS still collects the full amount it is entitled to. It just means my deduction is paid for by all of the other property tax payers in Chicago.

There is no “shortfall” for the state to back fill. The state’s portion of education funding for CPS is more likely to be in need of “back fill” than the other way around.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:45 pm
Rauner’s alternative fact of the day.

Comment by XDNR Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:46 pm
=== it effects the education funding formula===

The new formula. This didn’t happen under the new formula.

So he’s wrong.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:51 pm
Nagidam, because CPS is a PTELL district (imposed by state statute, not via referendum), the amount of EAV used to calculate what is owed under the state funding formula is not at all impacted by JB’s assessment reduction. The Governor is incorrect.

(If CPS were not property tax capped, then he could have an argument.)

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:52 pm
Honestly, I doubt that Rauner knows.

Jim Durkin ought to, however. If he’s so into term limits, maybe Leader Durkin can limit his term and study the issue.

Comment by low level Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:53 pm
And Rauner taking 3 homesteading credits on his homes? What about all of the times that Rauner has used tax attorneys to fight HIS property bills???

Comment by Union Thug Gramma Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:53 pm
I kave had a love/hate feeling about most downstate newspapers for years. Many opt to take the easy route and utilize the Illinois News Network to report most state news. And, many but not all, of their reporters are little more than scribes of reporting what was said.

So when the Governor has the “bully pulpit” his sermon will be reported as breaking news.

I could not have gotten away with much of what now passes as reporting 50 years ago when I was with the Daily Illini. Times change.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:58 pm
@47TH WARD,

Two separate issues here. What CPS gets from property taxes versus what CPS gets from The state education funding formula. (and RICH MILLER I am talking the old formula). The funding formula makes up for school districts that do not have high property wealth. This is why more money typically goes to districts outside of the collar counties. Many variables go into the assessed value or local effort. Value of homes and businesses being the first factor. TIFs is another factor. And yes value reductions through Board of Review decisions or reductions reduce the local effort. If you have less local effort then the state made up the difference to hold districts harmless in essence for low assessed value or as they call it, local effort.

Comment by Nagidam Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 5:28 pm
@Nagidam - I’m sure this was the point Rauner was trying to make while downstate and talking about Chicago. He’s a real tax and policy wonk at heart. Of course the media won’t tell you that. Thanks for correcting the record.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 7:35 pm