(The Center Square) – The sponsor of stadium legislation in the Illinois Senate says there have been more discussions about a publicly-owned facility for the Chicago Bears, but the public remains in the dark about the implications for taxpayers around the state.
State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, told a Lincoln Forum panel on Monday there have been ongoing discussions about his bill that would allow for a municipal stadium authority with a privately-financed and publicly-owned stadium.
“It’s an approach that the NFL is familiar with. All but three stadiums in the NFL were built under that kind of public ownership construct. And I would say in the recent weeks, the Bears have gotten more comfortable with that approach,” Cunningham said.
The municipality would own the stadium and pay no property taxes under Cunningham’s House Bill 958 Senate Amendment 2.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he would like a stadium bill to be ready for fall veto session next week.
“We want to make sure the legislation is ready for people to look at and maybe have some hearings during that first week, and then hopefully get voted on during the second week of veto,” Pritzker said at an event in Chicago last Friday.
Veto session is scheduled from Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, said any stadium bill should include more than just taxpayer protection.
“If we’re going to provide property tax certainty for a large development, which I believe we should, we should also, though, provide some reform and relief for all the property taxpayers of Illinois,” Ugaste told The Center Square.
Ugaste sponsored House Bill 5802, which he said would prevent a stadium development’s equalized assessed value from leading to higher property taxes for residents.
Ugaste said his bill contains two provisions that would not cost the state a dime but would provide property tax reform and relief.
Sean Reed contributed to this story.
