It’s been a busy few weeks, and here’s everything you should know about the Governor’s Budget Address, Data Centers, & More.
Data Centers
I know data centers have been a big topic locally lately. Here is an informative article about various aspects of policy discussions related to datacenters in Illinois.
Budget Address
Last week, Governor JB Pritzker presented his annual Budget Address and State of the State to the General Assembly. The Governor’s budget proposes another increase in state spending, making this another record amount, financed by more targeted taxes and fees. The devil is in the details and the Governor hints that he could take more local control from our communities to carry out his proposals.
Read my full statement here.
For more details on what Governor Pritzker included in his Budget Address, see this article from Capitol News Illinois.
While Pritzker fumbles, Indiana advances Bears stadium legislation.
Last Thursday, the Indiana House Ways & Means Committee unanimously approved legislation creating a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority for a proposed Bears stadium in Hammond, Indiana. Meanwhile, the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee canceled a planned hearing on proposed Bears stadium/mega-projects legislation. Another Revenue and Finance Committee is scheduled this Tuesday to discuss their plans to keep The Bears in Illinois.
Two potential sites for a proposed new Chicago Bears stadium could face legislative action soon. A substantial land parcel in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is already owned by the NFL football franchise. The former home of the Arlington Park horse racetrack, the suburban site has space to build hotel rooms for visitors and erect a Bears-oriented festival marketplace. It is convenient to highway and commuter train game-goers and is not far from O’Hare International Airport.
A second site in Hammond, Indiana, close to the state line and adjacent to heavily polluted Wolf Lake, is also on the table. Based on the declining activities of Northwest Indiana heavy industry in recent years, Hammond also has an adequate site for a stadium and festival-destination development. However, there is no airport near Hammond with commercial flight service. The highway that serves the Hammond site is a toll road.
Both sites have bills in their respective state legislatures that are poised to move forward. It is expected that if the Bears build a stadium in Illinois, Arlington Heights and other adjacent municipalities and taxing bodies would be asked to pick up some of the hosting responsibilities. One method to do so would be to agree to forego some of the property tax revenues that a privately-owned football stadium and hotel complex would otherwise generate.
No final decision has been announced as to the future home of the Chicago Bears.
Photo Dump!
Heading Back to Springfield This Week
I’m heading back to Springfield this week for another busy week of legislative action. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help!