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Chicago Mayor Proposes Tax Hike to Support LibrariesOn October 10, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley proposed a $108-million property tax increase–among the largest in city history—that would augment funding for library operations and possibly allow the construction of new facilities. The 15% hike faces opposition from members of the city council because of a state bill to cap property assessments. If that fails to become law, Chicago homeowners would face even higher payments. Daley said in a written statement that if the assessment cap debated in the Springfield state capitol does not go through, he may drop the library proposal. “But, if Springfield does act, and if together we decide to raise [taxes]—as difficult as that will be—one idea on the table is to support our libraries,” he said. Alderman Manny Flores supports the idea because he has been angling for a new library in his neighborhood, reported the October 10 Chicago Tribune. “Unlike a typical property tax increase, what we’re looking at here is a budget line item for libraries,” Flores said. Daley defended the proposal in the October 3 Chicago Sun-Times, saying, “Once a city starts stopping in regards to new development, new public projects, you hurt the city in the long run.” Critics argue that the library proposal is a means to make the large tax hike more palatable. A representative of the Civic Federation, a tax watchdog group, said in the October 11 Tribune that it “is unclear how libraries became the city’s top priority at this point in time ahead of all other city spending priorities.” Since Daley took office in 1989, 52 new branches have been built in Chicago. “Libraries are extensions of the school system, of the learning environment,” he said in the October 2 Tribune. “If a society is going to do well, you put the money into education and you put money into libraries.” Hearings on the budget will likely last weeks before a vote. Posted October 12, 2007. |
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