Chicago school board to weigh adding ballot questions about new revenue sources

Per Chalkbeat, Chicago's school board is considering adding two ballot measures to this November's election. One would ask Illinois voters whether the state should impose a millionaires tax to boost K through twelve funding statewide; the other would gauge support for new financial penalties on owners of undeveloped city land to increase Chicago Public Schools' budget. Both would be nonbinding, meaning voters would only be advising — neither the state nor the city would be legally required to act on the results. This comes as the district faces a funding gap and a failed attempt in the state legislature this spring to place a millionaires tax directly on the ballot. The board plans to vote on placing these questions on the ballot within days, though at least one independent board member has questioned the rushed timeline and the lack of specifics on how additional revenue would improve student outcomes.

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