CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says Chicago officials need to come up with a plan for addressing the city’s pension shortfall that doesn’t include a property tax hike.
Quinn told reporters Monday the property tax is a “lousy” tax and says “we’re not going to go that way.”
He says Chicago officials “need to be a whole lot more creative.”
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed a plan to cut Chicago’s nearly $20 billion pension debt in half. It would reduce retirees’ benefits and raise property taxes by about $750 million over five years.
Legislators and the governor must approve any changes to city pensions. Several lawmakers also have said they don’t want to vote for a tax hike.
Quinn is a Chicago Democrat who’s seeking re-election against Republican Bruce Rauner (ROW’-nur).
Please read our comment policy before commenting.