Economic growth matters. New development, new jobs, and new investment can strengthen communities across Illinois and Cook County.
But growth should not come from special deals that benefit only a small group of large projects.
Recent proposals have suggested creating special tax structures for so-called “mega projects.” These policies allow certain developments to receive unique tax treatment that is not available to smaller businesses or local investors.
This approach raises an important question: if predictable taxes and incentives are good policy, why should they apply only to large projects?
Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and local property owners already invest in our communities without receiving special carve-outs. Creating policies that favor only large developments risks creating an uneven economic environment.
A healthy economy should encourage investment from businesses of all sizes.
Instead of special tax treatment for a few projects, policymakers should focus on improving the overall business environment, predictable taxes, clear regulations, and policies that attract investment across the entire economy.
Economic growth should be broad-based, not limited to those with the largest projects.
