Court rejects bid to block Chicago ballot measure that would tax real estate for homeless services

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago voters will get the chance this month to decide on a ballot measure that would levy a one-time tax hike on luxury properties to pay for services for homeless people, a panel of appeals court judges ruled Wednesday.

The decision by Illinois’ First District Appellate Court allowing the measure to be decided in the March 19 election overturned a Cook County judge’s Feb. 23 rejection of the measure in response to objections from real estate and business groups.

Early voting has already begun, so the measure remained on ballots amid the legal fight. The city’s Board of Elections said all votes cast for and against the measure will count.

If approved, the measure would raise the city’s real estate transfer tax on properties valued at more than $1 million and lower it on properties valued under that. Supporters of the so-called Bring Chicago Home measure estimate that it would generate $100 million annually for homeless services, including mental health care and job training.

Maxica Williams, board president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, applauded the appellate judges’ decision.

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