Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Evanston, this is not complicated.
The Evanston Property Tax Circuit Breaker was created for one reason…
👉 to deliver immediate property tax relief to longtime homeowners being pushed out of the city they helped build.
No middlemen.
No third-party contracts.
Direct relief…from the City to residents.
And that’s exactly why it’s facing resistance.
Here’s what actually happened.
The Circuit Breaker came to the Housing & Community Development Committee as a standalone pilot, requesting $500,000…a small portion of the millions Evanston already holds in Affordable Housing funds.
Instead of allowing a clean vote to move it to City Council, an ultimatum was introduced.
Councilmember Bobby Burns said he would not support the Circuit Breaker unless it was folded into the Strategic Housing Plan.
That matters because:
• The Circuit Breaker was up for a vote
• The Strategic Housing Plan was discussion-only and not eligible for a vote
Councilmember Matt Rodgers had to explain basic process:
👉 you can’t hold one program hostage to force movement on another.
And here’s the key point.
Property tax relief was not in the Strategic Housing Plan until that very night.
Not during drafting.
Not during months of delay.
It was added only after the Circuit Breaker gained momentum.
That’s not planning.
That’s positioning.
Let’s talk votes.
The initial vote to move the Circuit Breaker forward was 5 - 4.
✅ Votes for immediate action:
• Matt Rodgers
• Community members Stephanie Murray, Joanne Zolomij, Cherylette Hilton
❌ Votes to delay:
• Bobby Burns, Shawn Iles, Juan Geracaris
• Community members Trina Ntamere, Cory King
A “no” vote wasn’t neutral.
It was a choice to delay relief…despite money being available.
Now the money.
Evanston has at least $5 million in Affordable Housing funds.
The Circuit Breaker asked for $500,000.
Separately, the City received $330,000 in federal Affordable Housing funds requested by Mayor Daniel Biss.
That money is documented as received…but its use has not been publicly traced.
So residents are right to ask:
👉 If the money exists and people need help now… why the delay?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth.
The Circuit Breaker:
• Bypasses third-party organizations
• Sends money directly to residents
• Removes control over how funds are carved up
Folding it into a stalled plan isn’t compromise.
It’s a burial tactic.
Passing the Circuit Breaker would not harm the Strategic Housing Plan.
Delaying it does protect control over housing funds.
CALL TO ACTION
Residents:
• Demand the Circuit Breaker remain standalone
• Demand a clean City Council vote
• Demand immediate relief - not delay tactics
Show up.
Email Council.
Speak at public comment.
Ask one simple question:
👉 If the money exists and people need help now…why the delay?
Because when help is ready and delay is chosen,
delay becomes the story.
#Evanston #PropertyTaxRelief #CircuitBreaker #DirectRelief #FollowTheMoney #GovernmentTransparency #ProtectLongtimeResidents
Evanston, this is not complicated.
The Evanston Property Tax Circuit Breaker was created for one reason…
👉 to deliver immediate property tax relief to longtime homeowners being pushed out of the city they helped build.
No middlemen.
No third-party contracts.
Direct relief…from the City to residents.
And that’s exactly why it’s facing resistance.
Here’s what actually happened.
The Circuit Breaker came to the Housing & Community Development Committee as a standalone pilot, requesting $500,000…a small portion of the millions Evanston already holds in Affordable Housing funds.
Instead of allowing a clean vote to move it to City Council, an ultimatum was introduced.
Councilmember Bobby Burns said he would not support the Circuit Breaker unless it was folded into the Strategic Housing Plan.
That matters because:
• The Circuit Breaker was up for a vote
• The Strategic Housing Plan was discussion-only and not eligible for a vote
Councilmember Matt Rodgers had to explain basic process:
👉 you can’t hold one program hostage to force movement on another.
And here’s the key point.
Property tax relief was not in the Strategic Housing Plan until that very night.
Not during drafting.
Not during months of delay.
It was added only after the Circuit Breaker gained momentum.
That’s not planning.
That’s positioning.
Let’s talk votes.
The initial vote to move the Circuit Breaker forward was 5 - 4.
✅ Votes for immediate action:
• Matt Rodgers
• Community members Stephanie Murray, Joanne Zolomij, Cherylette Hilton
❌ Votes to delay:
• Bobby Burns, Shawn Iles, Juan Geracaris
• Community members Trina Ntamere, Cory King
A “no” vote wasn’t neutral.
It was a choice to delay relief…despite money being available.
Now the money.
Evanston has at least $5 million in Affordable Housing funds.
The Circuit Breaker asked for $500,000.
Separately, the City received $330,000 in federal Affordable Housing funds requested by Mayor Daniel Biss.
That money is documented as received…but its use has not been publicly traced.
So residents are right to ask:
👉 If the money exists and people need help now… why the delay?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth.
The Circuit Breaker:
• Bypasses third-party organizations
• Sends money directly to residents
• Removes control over how funds are carved up
Folding it into a stalled plan isn’t compromise.
It’s a burial tactic.
Passing the Circuit Breaker would not harm the Strategic Housing Plan.
Delaying it does protect control over housing funds.
CALL TO ACTION
Residents:
• Demand the Circuit Breaker remain standalone
• Demand a clean City Council vote
• Demand immediate relief - not delay tactics
Show up.
Email Council.
Speak at public comment.
Ask one simple question:
👉 If the money exists and people need help now…why the delay?
Because when help is ready and delay is chosen,
delay becomes the story.
#Evanston #PropertyTaxRelief #CircuitBreaker #DirectRelief #FollowTheMoney #GovernmentTransparency #ProtectLongtimeResidents
