The watch is heading to the state to find more than $ 700 million for CTA, Metra, PACE and regional transport authority before running out of the federal Covid-19 grants next year and resorting to severe service cuts.
Lasers remain on the laser to repair agencies while discussing two draft laws, either to integrate agencies or empower RTA.
But legislators all refused to talk about immediate financing solutions.
“There will be no financing without repair,” said Senator Ram, RAM Ram Villaam, the extension of Chicago, repeatedly when asked about possible financing solutions. Repeat this point in a call with sunlight this week.
Time runs out, though. Obour leaders say a financing solution should be discovered by the end of the legislative session in the spring.
Below are some possible transfer solutions in view:
Budget room?
Re -customization of funds from the state budget will be a quick solution. This is politically difficult. Do not include GoV. JB Pritzker Any new money to cross.
“Unfortunately, public transport is not the only thing that is looking for money in the state budget,” Louis said.
What about “flexible” money?
One of the fastest ways to find money is to redirect the state's federal highway funds to public transport in a “fold” process.
Most states turn very little from federal funds to crossing. Illinois has turned about 2 %, according to one study, behind New Jersey and California, which turns between 10 % and 15 %.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro has ordered $ 153 million of federal highway funds to transport to avoid severe cuts in the public transport system in Philadelphia last year.
Illinois can do the same. But it will require the approval of the Ministry of Transport in Illinois.
“We need immediate solutions and Idot has some capacity there,” Louis said.
Solutions on the road?
Legionships are also studying “road use fees” that harm car drivers through the number of miles they drive. It was described as an alternative to the engines fuel tax-which witnessed dwindling returns as more electric cars and fuel cars reach the road. One draft law suggests a tax test on 1000 vehicles before expanding the state.
“But there is no way that can be implemented in time to avoid discounts,” Louis said. “The cuts will take years to reverse.”
Supporters recognize a new financing model that requires changes at the federal level. Until then, the proposed tax on shipping stations can raise tax revenues from EV drivers.
Expand sales tax?
A possible solution to the long term will include sales tax expanding to cover services, although any change in sales tax will come for a long time after the financial abyss.
The Roads and Communications Authority has already gathered more than a billion dollars to cross every year through a sales tax covering 29 out of 176 consumer service in the state – much lower than most neighboring states, according to the recommendation of the Civil Union, the tax accounting and budget center and the Chicago Capital Planning Agency.
The groups say that the expansion of the tax to cover the services will be more fair for low -income owners. They say that high -income families spend five times on low -income families.
Ralph Martier, Executive Director of the Accountability Center for Taxes and Budget, said that the current narrow sales tax base in the state is “a prescription for failure in fiscal policy.”
He said: “Illinois has already left the rest of the nation, and I failed to employ best practices by having a very narrow base of (tax) base.”
What about taking another shot in a progressive tax?
Lowe said a long -term possible solution may be a progressive income tax. Pritzker tried and failed to pass one in 2020. But Massachusetts Governor suggested using nearly one billion dollars for a 4 % general income tax on people who achieve one million dollars or more.
Martier said that the gradual income tax was flexible enough to deal with this type of financing burden. But Illinois voting against implementation created more hoops for the state to jump to achieve its goals.
JB Pritzker Governor's offer for gradual income tax failed in 2020.
Is the fare fair?
The Roads and Communications Authority suggested raising prices by 10 % in all fields, as it has been brought in 50 million dollars of annual financing. This only covers part of the budget gap.
Louis said that raising prices could harm some people who rely on crossing more than others. In addition, it can contribute to the “vortex of death transit”, as the height of the fare leads to a decrease in its passengers and less revenues in general.
Is savings possible through reorganization?
The Roads and Transport Authority said it had set $ 63 million in potential savings through efficiency. But not enough to close the budget deficit. Philavalam told the Sun Times he wanted the agencies to find nearly four times the savings.
Is the deadline in May really on the deadline?
Despite the rushing of transit leaders to find a budget solution by the end of spring, legislators insist that no additional money money be summoned without evidence to improve services.
The legislators told the legislators that the money is threatened with money, as the deputy of the state, Marti Moulan, Dai Dies, told the Sun Times, in reference to the warnings of the “Day of Resurrection” of Awara. “If anyone is demobilized,” we will start at the top. “
Since the reform legislation crawls its way through the state's home, Moulalan said that transportation agencies can wait for the veto session in November to obtain its answer to funding.
