Intergovernmental agreement with Chicago Board of Education to provide tax increment financing (TIF) assistance for improvements at John M. Smyth Elementary School at 1059 W 13th St

Record number: SO2026-0025397
Type: Ordinance; category: Agreements
Status: Final
Sponsor: Johnson, Brandon
Committee: Committee on Finance
Introduction Date: May 20, 2026
Final Action Date: Jun 17, 2026
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Jun 17, 2026

49 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. On motion of Alderperson Dowell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Jun 17, 2026.

Yea (49): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Absent (1): Gilbert Villegas (36)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: O2026-0025397 Substitute Ordinance.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance lets the City of Chicago sign an agreement with the Chicago Board of Education to use tax increment financing (TIF) money for improvements at John M. Smyth Elementary School. The City would pay for or pay back the Board for certain approved building costs at the school. The agreement will follow a form the City Council approved in 2021 for a project at Jacob Beidler Elementary School.

The City would use TIF money collected from the redevelopment area where the school is located to pay for some school improvements.
The amount is capped at a limit listed in Exhibit A, which is not included in the provided text.
The City finds that the improvements count as the Board's capital costs that are allowed under state TIF law.
The Commissioner of Planning and Development, or a designee, may negotiate and sign the agreement, subject to approval by the City's Corporation Counsel.
The ordinance takes effect once it is passed and approved.

Who: The Chicago Board of Education and John M. Smyth Elementary School would receive the TIF funding, which comes from tax increment collected in the surrounding redevelopment area.

Where: John M. Smyth Elementary School, 1059 W 13th St, Chicago (ward not stated)

Timeline

May 18, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Finance. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
May 20, 2026: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
Jun 15, 2026: Substituted
Jun 17, 2026: Passed, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Dowell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.