The future of a state building housing about 2,200 employees is sparking the latest disagreement between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Republicans pitched plans earmarking future property tax receipts of a possible James Thompson Center sale for Chicago schools.
The Republican governor has criticized the 16-story Helmut Jahn-designed building with roughly $326 million in deferred maintenance as a waste of taxpayer money. However, Emanuel says Rauner's estimates about benefits to schools are inaccurate and unanswered questions remain about the fate of a train station under the center.
Rauner accused Emanuel's office of devising artificial road blocks. Emanuel's spokesman calls Rauner's push to sell a pathetic display of misplaced priorities with Illinois' two-year budget impasse.
