We can’t look only at tax hikes to solve our city’s financial problems
I read your Oct. 31 editorial about proposals to raise revenue through legalization of marijuana and casino gaming, and I believe that you misunderstood my thought on the issues. That’s this: you cannot simply — and only — look to increase taxes on people to solve financial problems.
The tax crank has turned mightily on Chicagoans
over the last several years.
They deserve our best thinking on pursuing alternative revenue ideas as part of a truly smart revenue policy. Does that mean tax increases are off the table? No.
No one who is a responsible leader would ever suggest that. However, the legalization of marijuana and gaming are potential revenue sources to fill any budget hole — and, as I said earlier this week, Chicago must be at the table if they become law.
We would be irresponsible to not seek a large piece of the pie and let Springfield have all of the revenue.
As president of the Illinois State Board of Education, I worked with Sen. Andy Manar to initiate Senate Bill 1. I was told that it would be nearly impossible to change the state’s school funding formula. But you know what, with a lot of hard work and cooperation with elected officials, that bill eventually passed and Chicago Public Schools
now receive hundreds of millions of dollars from Springfield without putting additional burden on the backs of taxpayers.
I’ve put together many budgets — both in the public and private sectors — and I’m always leery when someone uses the words “level with people” or that they have a “welldesigned tax plan” because it usually means there is a tax increase coming.
The voters’ wallets are not bottomless pits. They deserve better from us. Gery Chico, candidate for mayor of Chicago