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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND EDUCATION AMENDMENT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF THE COUNTY OF COOK AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/28-1, et seq., and the Counties Code, 55 ILCS 5/5-1005.5, the corporate authorities of a county have the authority to submit a public question to the electors of the county by means of a referendum; and
WHEREAS, the County of Cook shall be asked to consider the submission of an advisory referendum question, as hereinafter specifically set forth, on the question of an Illinois Property Tax Relief and Education Amendment; said question to be submitted to the voters of the County of Cook at the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the results of such referendum will constitute the opinion of the residents of the County of Cook regarding the Illinois Property Tax Relief and Education Amendment; and
WHEREAS, it is important that local public opinion in the County of Cook be heard along with the opinions that may be expressed on the Illinois Property Tax Relief and Education Amendment in referendums in other jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, local public opinion on such matter is important to public officials and state legislators in a determination of what is wise public policy for the people of the State of Illinois and the County of Cook; and
WHEREAS, it is deemed by this Board of Commissioners to be in the best public interest to survey the opinion of the voters by submitting such question to the voters at the general election; and
WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5-1005.5 states, “By a vote of the majority of the members of the county board, the board may authorize an advisory question of public policy to be placed on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the county.”; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners seeks to place an advisory public question before the electorate via a referendum on the November 3, 2026, countywide ballot as such the following question of public policy shall be submitted to the voters of this county as an advisory referendum in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026, to wit:
“Shall Illinois adopt the Millionaire Amendment for Property Tax Relief and Education, which would enact a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires and use 50% of this new revenue to provide property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers and 50% to improve state funding for public education?”
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that this Board present the aforementioned question to the electorate via a countywide advisory referendum on the November 3, 2026, ballot; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Clerk shall certify the public question referenced herein and notify the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General of this request for action in accordance with Article 28 of the Election Code.
Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
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