pic via Chicago Sun-Times
DALEY NEWS
Tuesday, for Mayor Daley, was going like the first 55 minutes of President Obama's healthcare press conference, a few weeks ago: Uneventful and to the script, until the very end. Although, this end was part of today's script.
Late this afternoon, Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman unveiled CPS' proposed budget, which includes a $43-million property tax hike for Chicago homeowners. Set to be considered by the Board of Education on August 26, the increase would cost the average Chicago home (valued at $262,000) an extra $18.
Now, here is where the abatement comes: By law, CPS could have proposed an increase as high as $77 more per year, but didn't, to ease the burden on homeowners already going through tough times. The mayor made sure we understood this.
From the Sun-Times:
"They're not raising property taxes. We're abating 50 percent of the property tax. ... Instead of going up to $83 [million] or $100 million, we're abating about fifty-some million," Daley said.
"We're abating almost 50 percent [of what the tax increase could be]. That's what we're doing. Any other questions?"
I do, sir. If the tax isn't going down, or staying neutral, but going up - even if it was just raised no more than Patrick Kane's missing 20 cents - isn't it just a plain old increase?
Semantics might do the trick this year, but 2010 and beyond is a different story.
CPS is estimated to face a $900-million deficit next year, a tad more than this year's $475 million in red ink.
Bringing more not-so-pleasant news was an analysis by the SEIU Illinois Council. It showed that the money the city has used from asset deals (Chicago Skyway, Midway, parking meters) to fill budget holes won't be as plentiful next year.
So what does all this mean?
It means Daley has, for years now, been building a house of cards. Rather than facing the problem head-on and developing new sources of revenue, the mayor has chased short-term fixes. He has leased valuable public assets despite evidence that the deals represent a long-term loss to taxpayers. Meanwhile, he has watched hundreds of millions in public dollars flow towards his tax increment financing (TIF) fiefdom. Apparently, he is just crossing his fingers that the Olympic bid or a rejuvenated economy will save him from this downward spiral.
The more this goes on, the more I'm convinced Mayor Daley has watched the ‘Marge vs. the Monorail' episode of ‘The Simpsons' too many times, and thought he was smarter than Lyle Lanley.
But I digress.
About that first 55 minutes:
This morning, the mayor joined police officials and others to honor and retire the police star of Officer Joseph Airhart. Airhart, while part of a 2001 FBI-Chicago task force, was shot and held hostage by a bank robber. He was left paralyzed from his injuries, and died last November.
Later, the mayor spent the afternoon with NBA star Lebron James, encouraging teens to go to school and give back to their community. Sorry, Bulls fans, but this photo-op was more Olympic-minded than sweet talking James to sign with Chicago next year, if he opts for free agency.
The mayor ended today's public schedule with a reception in honor of Ukraine's upcoming independence anniversary.
DALEY CHATTER
To Olympic dreamers west of Gary and east Des Moines, Chicago's chances to land the 2016 games still appear to be solid, but other cities aren't so sure.
Said to be mulling bids for 2020 are Tulsa, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Already longshots, Chicago would have to lose its bid before any other U.S. city thinks about 2020. U.S. Olympic Committee leaders jumped in to reiterate their support and absolute efforts in getting the 2016 games in Chicago. But wouldn't it be funny if the city of the late, great John Hughes lost out to the cities of ‘The Outsiders,' ‘Robocop' and ‘Zack & Miri Make A Porno?'
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Comments
Any bets Daley will wait to release his 2010 budget (with tax increase) until after the Olympic committee decides on the 2016 host city on Ocotber 2nd?
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