CHICAGO — Supporters of a brand new plan to subsidize a proposed Arlington Heights stadium for the Chicago Bears are drawing up a play that’s thus far lacking a quarterback in Springfield.
In reality, most of its backers are nonetheless within the huddle.
No laws has been filed, and no sponsors have been named for the measure that may create a brand new class of tax incentive known as a PILOT. That stands for fee in lieu of taxes.
It will permit the Bears to pay to Arlington Heights a negotiated sum for the property taxes on the 326-acre website of the previous Arlington Worldwide Racecourse. The quantity presumably could be lower than what the staff could be answerable for because it pursues its stadium and different buildings that may add to the property’s worth.
“As we’ve got stated publicly, property tax certainty is important for the Arlington Park challenge to maneuver ahead. We proceed to do our due diligence on how that may be completed,” the Bears stated in a press release.
In a abstract of the proposal, the staff stated 35 different states have an analogous tax incentive to draw main developments, leaving Illinois at a drawback. The Bears’ proposal would apply the PILOT incentive just for tasks with greater than a $500 million capital funding. A stadium alone in Arlington Heights is estimated to value not less than $2.5 billion.
A key challenge with the Bears’ proposal is whether or not Arlington Heights-area colleges could be concerned in negotiating any funds. Any growth that may add households to the world would enhance college enrollment – and by extension the necessity for funding, now largely equipped by property taxes.
A draft of the laws stated a municipality and personal developer can mutually terminate the inducement at any time, however the developer should agree to remain on the property for not less than 20 years.
The Bears have enlisted consultants, one of many state’s main enterprise teams and a street builders’ affiliation to advertise the laws.
The concept was floated in Springfield weeks in the past, together with in a gathering with high-level Democratic staffers that included not less than one consultant of Gov. JB Pritzker’s workplace. However the plan was initially met with a powerful no, a supply with information of the assembly advised the Solar-Instances.
However now, supporters of the inducement, together with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, try to spherical up help – utilizing the argument that with out state help for the Bears, the staff may pack up and depart.
“I believe it must occur by the tip of this session. If not, you are going to begin to produce other states make their instances on why the Chicago Bears needs to be the St. Louis Bears,” stated Todd Maisch, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “That is simply the truth of the world. And folks could not prefer it, however all people desires the Chicago Bears to stay the Chicago Bears. It may get just a little messy. However I believe we will attain a constructive steadiness.
Maisch additionally fought again the characterization that it’s a “Bears bailout,” which is what number of view any subsidies for a staff that took in $520 million in income in 2021, in line with Forbes.
“I might reject the notion it is a bailout. There’s competitors throughout state and industries. Let’s acknowledge that there is a competitors for investments throughout the nation, whether or not it’s mild manufacturing, transportation or whether or not it’s sports activities groups,” Maisch stated.
In September, the Bears laid out the groundwork to hunt some form of public subsidy for an enormous, mixed-use stadium growth they’re exploring on the Arlington Heights website. The staff stated it would not search public funding for stadium building, however would ask for “extra funding and help” for a broader, mixed-use growth it known as one of many largest in Illinois historical past.
Pritzker has stated he doesn’t help public financing of the stadium.
And within the waning days of the Illinois Normal Meeting’s lame duck session, legislators handed the Spend money on Illinois Act, which incorporates the next language: “the Division (of Commerce and Financial Alternative) shall not award financial incentives to knowledgeable sports activities group that strikes its operation from one location within the State to a different location within the State.”
That was in reference to discretionary funds getting used for closing prices. That invoice has but to make it to the governor’s desk.
State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, stated he has reviewed the newest proposal – and has numerous questions, together with how the Board of Appeals and Prepare dinner County Assessor Fritz Kaegi would really feel about freezing such a big evaluation for 20 years.
“I would not name it a subsidy. It truly is far more of paying fewer taxes. I believe the plan is attention-grabbing. I believe it is new. We do not do that within the state.
“The problem I’ve is that it requires the municipalities to barter on behalf of the college districts, and I am not so positive the college district should not have extra energy on what occurs with the tax cash that ought to go to them that they do that on this plan,” Walker stated. “I am unsure but. That is a shortcoming.”
Walker additionally known as it an “attention-grabbing proposition for the state to maneuver firms right here,” however not essentially for firms who’re simply searching for to relocate to different elements of the state.
Walker stated he hasn’t been requested to sponsor the invoice.
“I could possibly be thought of a sponsor. Would I select to sponsor is an entire totally different query. I believe it is out of the wind. They’re attempting to see who could be finest.”
State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, advised the Solar-Instances the proposal deserves “cautious evaluate” earlier than it is thought of. Canty can be on the Arlington Park Village Board.
“Like all dedication of taxpayer {dollars}, the proposed subsidy plan for a brand new Chicago Bears’ stadium deserves cautious evaluate earlier than we determine whether or not to proceed,” Canty stated in an e-mail to the Solar-Instances.
“Whereas I’m excited on the prospect of bringing new financial growth alternatives to our neighborhood, we’ve got to obviously consider potential returns on our expenditure, and if it’s the state’s place to become involved on this challenge.”
(Supply: Solar-Instances Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Solar-Instances 2023.)