Chicago School Board Approves Ballot Measures on Millionaires Tax and Vacant Land Penalty
Chicago's school board has voted to place two non-binding referendums on the November ballot. These referendums will gauge voter opinions on a potential statewide millionaires tax for public education and a new financial penalty on vacant city land to benefit…
Chicago, IL, August 14, 2026 —
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on two key financial proposals this November, following a vote by the Chicago Board of Education to place non-binding referendums on the ballot. The decisions were made amidst internal division within the board, with accusations of a boycott surfacing.
The first referendum seeks to poll voters on their support for a potential statewide millionaires tax, with revenues earmarked for public education. The second proposal aims to gauge public opinion on implementing a new financial penalty specifically on vacant city land. The funds generated from this penalty would be directed to Chicago Public Schools.
The board’s vote to advance these ballot questions occurred in a context of internal discord. Some board members reportedly accused others of boycotting a special meeting that was convened to finalize the ballot measures before a crucial deadline. The specifics regarding the exact nature of the penalty on vacant land and the proposed tax rate for the millionaires tax were not detailed in the provided information. Additionally, the names of the board members who made the accusations or who were allegedly involved in the boycott were not disclosed.
These non-binding referendums are intended to serve as an advisory tool, providing insight into voter sentiment on these potential funding mechanisms for education. The outcomes will not legally compel any legislative or policy changes but will offer a snapshot of public priorities regarding school funding.
The timeline for when these specific ballot questions were finalized or the exact date of the special meeting was not provided. Further details on the process for establishing the penalty on vacant land and the structure of the proposed millionaires tax remain to be seen should these proposals move forward legislatively.
Story summarized from the original created by Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat on blockclubchicago.org, see more information here.
