Chicago's 'Bring Chicago Home' Referendum Faces Supreme Court Challenge

Real estate groups appeal to block the tax increase on high-end property sales, citing potential harm to small businesses and constitutional concerns.

• Real estate and business groups in Chicago have appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court to block the 'Bring Chicago Home' referendum, which seeks to increase taxes on high-end property sales to fund homelessness prevention.
• The appellate court recently revived the referendum after a lower court had invalidated it, ruling that legal challenges to the tax were premature and that courts cannot intervene in the legislative process before a policy is passed.
• The 'Bring Chicago Home' coalition and supporters argue that the referendum is a popular measure aimed at addressing the housing crisis, while opponents claim it combines multiple questions into one and could harm small businesses.
• If approved by voters, the Chicago City Council would still need to officially enact the tax change, which is estimated to generate at least $100 million annually for homelessness prevention.
• Critics, including the Illinois Policy Institute, argue that the tax could deter new business startups and unfairly impact commercial properties, while supporters emphasize the need for additional resources to combat homelessness.

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