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* Fox 32…
The Chicago Teachers Union Foundation is seeking to significantly reduce the property tax bill for its West Loop headquarters, according to documents from the Cook County Assessor’s Office obtained by FOX 32 Chicago.
The Assessor recently reappraised the value of the CTU’s building, estimating its fair market value at $19 million. However, the CTU is appealing this assessment and has hired a private appraiser who argues that the building’s value should be reduced by more than half, to $9.2 million.
Based on the county’s appraisal, the CTU would owe approximately $1 million in property taxes. According to the Cook County Clerk’s office, 55% of Chicago’s property tax revenue is allocated to the Chicago Board of Education. This means about $550,000 of the CTU’s tax bill would fund Chicago Public Schools. If the CTU’s appeal is successful, it would cut that contribution by more than half, depriving the school district of approximately $275,000.
The school district will get its money because reductions like these are offset by other taxpayers.
* The broadcast version of the story includes commentary from the Illinois Policy Institute…
The CTU right now is asking for more than a billion dollars from Springfield. They’re asking for higher taxes on Chicago residents, and they’re saying that everybody else needs to pay their fair share. What this appeal shows is that that is all just rhetoric, and that they themselves are trying to reduce their property tax bills.
People and organizations have the right to contest their property taxes. Lots of politicians even help their constituents object without having to hire a lawyer. And if you click here, you’ll see that the CTU routinely files property tax appeals.
* Meanwhile, as we discussed yesterday, Gov. Pritzker responded to this tweet by the CTU’s president…
🤔 is this hi-5 from the Trib’s ed board a benefit for a potential VP? Praising #JBP for… *continuing* the tradition of *denying* funding for Black, brown, working class and immigrant kids in IL’s largest school district?That’s what dems want in a VP? https://t.co/ZDXOGHDZlo
— ⭐️ SDG ⭐️AKA Muse of Chicago Trib Editorial Board (@stacydavisgates) July 26, 2024
Look, I think that they’re in the middle of a negotiation, and so I think they’re going to say things that they think are going to, you know, will advance their cause. I think I’ve been clear, I want to fully fund education, public education, in the state of Illinois. I have worked hard during my term in office to do that. Billions of dollars more have gone into education, public education, for our state. I want to do even more.
We’re taking every resource that’s available to us for education and putting it there. So I know that there are people who would like more, I’m one of them, and so let’s go do that. But that is not something that can happen immediately during their negotiation.
It is something that I think we should be working on every single year, and I’ve done that. Again, almost half a billion dollars more has gone into public education every single year since I took office. And again, I will do everything I can to meet the needs of our students and make sure that we’re paying our teachers properly. But you know, criticism at this moment isn’t helpful. I think, you know, they came to Springfield, they talked to the legislature. We, in fact, did provide a significant amount more money for public schools, and we’ll continue to do it every year I’m in office.
* Fox 32 then followed up with Stacy Davis Gates…
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates clapped back at Pritzker in a statement, alluding to governors of neighboring states who might be on a short list to be Kamala Harris’s vice presidential nominee. ‘We’re glad the presumptive nominee’s list includes governors in other states who have taxed the rich, placed social workers in every school from a central budget and aggressively leaned into investing in education.’ Davis Gates says Governor Pritzker should see those as examples to follow.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 11:59 am
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Keep attacking Stacy. I’m sure that will get you more funding. You aren’t going to bully your way into more money from the state no matter what kind of vitriol you throw out there.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:09 pm
The main issue with messaging from Stacy Davis Gates (and, in turn, Mayor Johnson) is that she lives in an echo chamber and doesn’t understand the perspective of anyone outside of it. I don’t see that changing anytime soon, especially if CTU is able to pull off electoral wins on the new School Board.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:12 pm
I think CTU, may learn how much JB is like Michael Jordan,
So I took it Personally
Ironically, I think MJ and JB’s bankbook are about right too………
Comment by Someone you shoudl know Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:12 pm
Pritzker isn’t going to be on the ticket with Harris regardless of what they say, so they’re not moving the needle nationally. All they’re doing is poking the bear at home, and you don’t want to poke the bear when he’s hungry, folks.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:14 pm
The incredible irony of the CTU wanting more taxpayer money while wanting the share they have to pay is better than any clapback JB could provide.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:15 pm
I mean, asking for a $9.2 million valuation for that property seems pretty crazy. CTU have not been that successful in reducing the property’s assessment in the past.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:16 pm
With Johnson likely a single term mayor, and JB likely Gov for as long as he chooses… the CTU should try to make friends, not enemies.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:20 pm
Not sure why my comment didn’t show up
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:24 pm
All SDG is doing is driving up Pritzker’s favorability among fiscally conservative but socially moderate voters.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:24 pm
If their property is truly overvalued they are justified in seeking a reduction to a reasonable valuation. However it sounds like they are asking for more than that. Not a good look to try and stick everyone else with a bigger burden especially when your membership is providing those people with a low quality product.
Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:25 pm
Why surprised at this?? It has never been about the kids when it comes to CTU. It is “pay us your dues”.. I mean CTU Stacey doesn’t send her kids to a public school. This current contract battle will be the end of this CTU team.
Comment by NotRich Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:26 pm
Stacy Davis Gates and her comment about neighboring states…does she realize a state bordering Illinois has school choice where money destined for public schools is diverted to private schools. Referenda to fund schools is voted down; schools close and teachers lose their jobs.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:27 pm
Picking a fight with Pritzker, the most racially progressive governor, is a very“far left” thing to do. No wonder these people never win major elections and just remain fringe.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:35 pm
Totally unsuspicious law firm they hired recently to do their appeals too.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:39 pm
===No wonder these people never win major elections===
Um, did you miss 2023?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:40 pm
When you are a hammer everything looks like a nail
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 12:43 pm
Maybe instead of spending so much time and energy picking fights with the Governor, the CTU would be better off taking a moment and trying to learn a lesson or two from the Governor.
By which I mean, call a plumber and get the toilets removed from the CTU HQ. j/k.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 1:02 pm
=The main issue with messaging from Stacy Davis Gates (and, in turn, Mayor Johnson) is that she lives in an echo chamber and doesn’t understand the perspective of anyone outside of it. =
Spot on.
They are not alone in this but it is a perfectly apt description of what is more and more a foolish enterprise.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 1:20 pm
Stacy makes Catanzara look like a rational negotiating partner. Congratulations.
Comment by Chicago Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 1:33 pm
Hearing Stacy Davis Gates talk about rich people sure is something. She’s isn’t downtrodden.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 1:48 pm
Can they get Ed Burke or Mike Madigan to help? … oh, maybe not…
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 2:00 pm
===Can they get Ed Burke or Mike Madigan to help?===
The union’s property tax lawyer used to work for Burke, so there’s that.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 2:09 pm
The CTU folks are practitioners of movement politics. Movements need a villain, and for the first time that villain can’t be the mayor of Chicago, because he’s one of their own. And it can’t be the CEO of Chicago public schools because Brandon Johnson can fire him in an instant. So they’ve settled on JB.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 2:34 pm
The term “fool’s errand” is an apt description of SDG in her attempts to bash Governor Pritzker. So many words from SDG yet so little sense.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 2:48 pm
Roman is on the money with this, CTU needs a villain, and it can’t be the mayor so they have decided to pick JB.
In the long term, they may be doing him a solid if/when JB runs for something else. If I am such a scary liberal, why does the CTU come after me all the time?
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 2:53 pm
Fun to hear all the class war rhetoric from very comfortably 6-figure earning, private school product and patron SDG. Then when her fingers get tired she can hand it off to a trust fund kid who went to a magnet. Is JB (or anyone else) supposed to feel guilted by people like this? It’s absurd.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 3:00 pm
==In the long term, they may be doing him a solid if/when JB runs for something else. If I am such a scary liberal, why does the CTU come after me all the time?==
Precisely correct. Put another way. if SDG says you are doing something wrong, you more than likely are doing it right.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jul 30, 24 @ 4:25 pm