A brand new ballot commissioned by a self-described libertarian group discovered that Arlington Heights residents assist the Chicago Bears transferring from Soldier Field to their village, however oppose any tax subsidy to assist the staff accomplish that.
The ballot, launched Tuesday, discovered that 72% of respondents accepted of the Bears’ proposal to construct a stadium on the closed Arlington International Racecourse – however 68% opposed utilizing tax {dollars} to assist the staff.
The ballot additionally discovered sturdy assist for an ordinance to ban Arlington Heights from utilizing taxpayer funds to assist construct a stadium or different “corporate welfare” by a 55%-30% margin.
The survey was sponsored by Americans for Prosperity-Illinois, a gaggle based by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers, and surveyed 300 registered voters within the village.
Americans for Prosperity Deputy State Director Brian Costin mentioned in a press release that residents “are sending a message to the village to end the continued flirtation with corporate welfare programs.”
Mayor Tom Hayes mentioned he couldn’t remark particularly with out having seen the ballot, however famous that questions could be skewed to affect the outcomes.
The first query of the ballot, as an example, asks voters whether or not they approve “select treatment to giant, special companies,” or treating all companies equally, the latter of which bought assist from 64% of respondents.
Hayes has left the door open to offering some type of tax assist for the Bears proposed transfer, and mentioned the Village Board would struggle Americans for Prosperity’s petition calling for an ordinance that may ban any taxpayer incentives within the village.
The massive concern, Hayes mentioned, is that such a ban would have an effect on all growth within the village, not simply the Bears.
“That would put us at a severe competitive disadvantage compared to our surrounding municipalities,” he mentioned.
Any tax incentive can be restricted and supposed as an funding that may repay for all taxing our bodies by better growth and future property taxes, Hayes mentioned.
The village’s main growth instrument has been Tax Increment Financing, through which property tax proceeds to taxing our bodies comparable to faculties are stored at present ranges, and any elevated property tax revenues are used to construct roads and different infrastructure to reinforce using a website for personal building.
The village has 4 present TIFs, based on Americans for Prosperity.
The mannequin for such a program, Hayes mentioned, was downtown Arlington Heights, which remodeled from a sleepy suburban neighborhood to a thriving vacation spot with high-rise condominiums, bars, eating places, and a performing arts heart.
That TIF has since been retired, with full property tax revenues now paid to all taxing our bodies.
Americans for Prosperity argued that the Bears don’t want such assist, particularly after the National Football League lately signed a $110 billion media deal, price greater than $3 billion per staff.
In September 2021, the Bears introduced that they had signed a purchase order settlement to purchase the racetrack property from Churchill Downs Inc. for $197 million, pending remaining approvals by each events. Churchill Downs Inc. subsequently closed the famed racetrack. The Bears must break their lease at Soldier Field to construct a brand new stadium at Arlington.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lately unveiled plans for Soldier Field that would price as much as $2.2 billion as a part of her ongoing marketing campaign to maintain the Bears from transferring to Arlington Heights.
The Bears have performed at Soldier Field since transferring from Wrigley Field in 1971. They performed the 2002 season at Champaign’s Memorial Stadium whereas Soldier Field underwent a $690 million renovation.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com