Better way to keep Sears in Hoffman

There were two interesting articles on the May 10 front page. Sears wants a 15-year renewal of a previous 23-year property tax incentive. Sears is threatening to move out of the state if he doesn’t get it. Hoffman Estates and the governor of Illinois have no problems with this giveaway.

Community Unit District 300 is the taxing body that loses this money. Over the past 22 years they have “donated” nearly $200 million of tax money to Sears. They have been patiently waiting for the time they could start charging this company the property tax money due them. Last Monday they cut 21 paraprofessionals who help teach the Preschool for All program — a program that provides preschool for at-risk students. If Sears had been paying their property tax like the rest of Illinois companies, these employees would not have been fired.

Hoffman Estates says they nearly guarantee that the school district won’t lose any more money than they are losing now. Are Hoffman Estates and Gov. Quinn willing to make up the entire shortfall for District 300? Are they willing to reimburse District 300 the whole property tax Sears should be paying? As long as it doesn’t come from their pocket, they are more than willing to let underprivileged children suffer so millionaires can make more.

If Gov. Quinn really wants to give Sears a financial incentive, why doesn’t he lower the corporate income tax for Sears?

John Scott

Huntley