Draft:Bring Chicago Home

Bring Chicago Home, officially known as Ballot Question 1, was a failed tax referendum in the 2024 primary election in Chicago. Labeled as a "mansion tax" by both supporters  and opponents,  the measure, if passed, would have amended Chicago's current real estate transfer tax, changing it from a flat tax to a progressive tax, lowering the tax for property sales under a $1 million and raising the tax on the value of property sales over $1 million and $1.5 million respectively. The revenue generated would have established a fund with the purpose of addressing homelessness by providing permanent affordable housing and support services designed to help unhoused individuals find and maintain stable housing. The election was held on March 19, 2024 and the referendum was not approved, with 52.17% voting "No."

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To the Voters of the City Of Chicago:

Amending the Real Estate Transfer Tax

"Shall the City of Chicago impose: 1) a real estate transfer tax decrease of 20% to establish a new transfer tax rate of $3 for every $500 of the transfer price, or fraction thereof, for that part of the transfer price under $1,000,000 to be paid by the buyer of the real estate transferred unless the buyer is exempt from the tax solely by operation of state law, in which case the tax is to be paid by the seller; AND (2) a real estate transfer tax increase of 166.67% to establish a new transfer tax rate of $10 for every $500 of the transfer price or fraction thereof, for that part of the transfer price between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000 (inclusive) to be paid by the buyer of the real estate transferred unless the buyer is exempt from the tax solely by operation of state law, in which case the tax is to be paid by the seller; AND (3) a real estate transfer tax increase of 300% to establish a new transfer tax rate of $15 for every $500 of the transfer price, or fraction thereof, for that part of the transfer price exceeding $1,500,000 to be paid by the buyer of the real estate transferred unless the buyer is exempt from the tax solely by operation of state law, in which case the tax is to be paid by the seller? The current rate of the real estate transfer tax is $3.75 per $500 of the entire transfer price, or fraction thereof, and the revenue is used for general corporate purposes. The revenue from the increase (the difference between revenue generated under the increased rate and the current rate) is to be used for the purpose of addressing homelessness, including providing permanent affordable housing and the services necessary to obtain and maintain permanent housing in the City of Chicago." With vote options of "Yes" or "No".

Background
Illinois state law allows for Chicago's real estate transfer tax to be modified through either a referendum question brought directly to voters or through an amendment to the law by the Illinois General Assembly.

In October 2018, the Bring Chicago Home campaign was announced, led by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) and sponsored by Alderman Walter Burnett. The campaign advocated for a 160 percent increase to Chicago's real estate transfer tax on property sales over $1 million for the purpose of combating homelessness through affordable housing and support services to be included via referendum in the 2019 Chicago elections. CCH estimated the original proposal would generate $150 million annually. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his opposition to the plan, stating that Chicago homeowners are "not an ATM machine." Emanuel remained opposed to Bring Chicago Home, stalling the referendum from being included in either the 2019 City Council Election or 2020 general election.

During the 2019 Chicago mayoral runoff election both candidates, Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot, endorsed Bring Chicago Home. Shortly into Lightfoot's mayoralty, she signaled she would ask the Illinois General Assembly to change the real estate transfer tax, instead of bringing the referendum to voters. Senate President John Cullerton and House Majority Leader Greg Harris both expressed doubts it could be passed.

In June 2022, Crain's Chicago Business reported real estate groups such as the Chicago Association of Realtors and the Building Owners & Managers Association in Chicago had remained silent on the campaign but would mobilize opposition when the City Council picked it back up. In November 2022, there was a renewed push from Alderpersons Maria Hadden and Matt Martin to place Bring Chicago Home on the ballot in the 2023 Chicago election. The plan was stopped when Lightfoot and her council allies protested the vote, preventing a quorum.

The 2023 Chicago mayoral election marked a turning point in the Bring Chicago Home campaign when Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson won in the runoff against former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas. The Bring Chicago Home ordinance was a central pillar of Johnson's campaign platform.

In August 2023, a compromise on the proposal, negotiated by Mayor Johnson's floor leader and Zoning Committee Chair, Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, modified the original proposal to triple the transfer tax on properties sold for over $1 million dollars, and changed it to a self-described “three-tiered progressive structure.” The updated proposal cut the tax of sales under $1 million from 0.75% to 0.60%, increased the tax on the value between $1 million and $1.5 million to 2%, and the value greater than $1.5 million to 3%. The changes in the proposal were made to minimize opposition from those concerned that smaller apartment buildings would bear the brunt of the tax increase. Representatives from the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance, and other real estate groups expressed opposition to the plan naming that it would lead to landlords increasing rents and further damage the return to in-person work following the COVID-19 pandemic in Chicago. The updated proposal was estimated to generate $100 million in revenue annually.

In November 2023, a vote to include the Bring Chicago Home referendum in the March 19, 2024 primary election passed in the Chicago City Council by a 32-17 vote.

If Bring Chicago Home were to pass, it would have been first time Chicago voters approved a binding referendum since 1885.