Millionaire Tax for Property Tax Relief and Education (Advisory)
As it appears on your ballot
“Shall Illinois adopt the Millionaire Amendment for Property Tax Relief and Education, which would enact a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires and use 50% of this new revenue to provide property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers and 50% to improve state funding for public education?”
In plain English
A non-binding question asking whether Illinois should add a 3% state income tax surcharge on individual income above $1 million per year. Half of the money raised would go to property tax relief and half to public schools, distributed per pupil. This vote does not change any law. It is a formal way for Cook County voters to tell state legislators what they think, because only the Illinois General Assembly and a statewide vote can amend the state constitution to allow it.
A YES vote
You support Illinois adopting a 3% income tax surcharge on income above $1 million, split evenly between property tax relief and public education funding. Nothing changes automatically — it registers your opinion for state legislators.
A NO vote
You do not support the proposed millionaire surcharge. Nothing changes automatically either way; the question is advisory.
What it takes to pass
This question is advisory. It does not change any law regardless of the result — it records public opinion for lawmakers.
Fiscal impact
Supporters estimate the underlying statewide amendment would raise roughly $4 billion a year, with half directed to property tax relief and half distributed to school districts on a per-pupil basis. The advisory question itself raises and spends nothing.
Behind it
- Cook County Board of CommissionersApproved unanimously on July 16, 2026. Sponsored by Commissioner Donna Miller (D-6th District).
Opposed
- No organised opposition recorded. Absence of a listing is not evidence there is none.
The Cook County Board approved placing this question on the ballot on July 16, 2026 (File #26-1964). It is shown as proposed rather than certified until the Cook County Clerk certifies the November ballot. The underlying constitutional amendment (HJRCA0021, introduced October 2025) is not itself on any 2026 ballot; the earliest it could appear is November 2028.
Sources
- Cook County Board — File #26-1964 (resolution authorizing the advisory referendum)
- Evanston RoundTable — Cook County to vote on millionaire tax idea after commissioners add it to November ballot
- Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle — Cook County Board passes Miller's resolution to place millionaire tax on November ballot
Last updated 2026-08-11.