A divided Chicago school board adds referendums on new revenue to November ballot

The Chicago school board voted on Thursday to include two referendum questions on the November ballot, aiming to gauge public opinion on proposals to generate additional funds for the financially struggling district. The first referendum seeks voter approval of a statewide millionaires tax to fund public education, while the second proposal calls for imposing a financial penalty on owners of vacant city land to direct resources to Chicago Public Schools.

These referendums are non-binding and would not compel the state or city to implement the new taxes or allocate the revenue to the district. Supporters of the referendums hoped the questions could put pressure on state and city officials to take action.

State lawmakers attempted a binding referendum in the spring to enact a millionaires tax for education and property tax relief, but it ultimately failed. Board President Sean Harden acknowledged the short window for activating a new approach to tackle CPS's fiscal pressures. However, some board members accused their colleagues of boycotting the special meeting to derail the referendums. The meeting was eventually reconvened, with two board members supportive of the measures joining virtually.

The board's decision comes after rejecting educator and staff layoffs under CEO Macauline King's budget proposals. They opted to address the deficit by assuming additional state revenue. Angel Velez, the board vice president, highlighted the funding gap between Illinois' "adequate" district funding and the amount CPS currently receives. Velez emphasized the need to build public support for addressing the district's inadequacies.

Cydney Wallace, another Johnson-appointed board member, introduced the vacant land question, emphasizing that thousands of vacant lots across the city are eyesores that impact public safety and mental health. She argued that developing urban land could enhance residents' well-being. Board member Jennifer Custer was the sole no vote on both ballot questions, suggesting that the board should prioritize finding immediate solutions to the district's budget crisis rather than soliciting voter opinions on potential long-term solutions.