Evanston Scribe

Logan, Smith bring the field to six for Evanston’s special mayoral election in 2027

Bob12 hours ago10 hours ago02 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Candidates Gilo Kwesi Logan and Jeff Smith filed petitions on the last day of the filing period…

Evanston Dog Beach users rally at city hall against Dec. 1 beach closing

Bob1 day ago19 hours ago03 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston dog beach users lined the circular drive that leads to Evanston’s city hall Monday, protesting the…

Tax and service fee hikes get attention in early budget feedback

Bob2 days ago06 mins

‘These little incremental increases really add up,’ resident says at First Ward budget meeting By Bob Seidenberg With the proposed…

Rainey is officially in the race for Evanston mayor

Bob5 days ago3 days ago11 mins

By Bob Seidenberg An upbeat Ann Rainey, whose public service in Evanston dates back to 1983, officially filed Friday to…

Officials search for how to address vacant NU properties

Bob2 weeks ago07 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Preservation Commission members have received an update about the condition and vacancy status of several Northwestern…

Staffing in question as City Manger’s budget moves to council for first look

Bob2 weeks ago2 weeks ago09 mins

By Bob Seidenberg With the 2027 city budget going to the full city council for their first look, council members…

Presbyterian Living to seek community input for renewal plan to its northwest Evanston campus

Bob3 weeks ago3 weeks ago05 mins

Non-profit group plans to spend millions upgrading its campus EVANSTON, ILL (October 9, 2026) – Presbyterian Living, a mission-based, non-profit senior…

City’s ’Space to Place’ kicks off, giving entrepreneurs a chance to show off their business

Bob3 weeks ago3 weeks ago05 mins

By Bob Seidenberg With Northwestern students now back filling downtown streets, alums and out-of-towners alike eager to gawk at the…

Packed audience at NU for play on Oct. 7 evacuated after sirens go off

Bob3 weeks ago3 weeks ago01 mins

By Bob Seidenberg A packed audience of people at Northwestern University’s Cahn Auditorium tonight for a play about the October…

Walk, Connect, Make a Difference: Step Up for Recovery Returns October 4

Bob4 weeks ago03 mins

Annual community event supports substance use prevention, affordable treatment, and recovery EVANSTON, IL — September 25, 2026 — On October…

Will a once obscure tax become a dedicated source for future pension funding?

Members of a city committee are scheduled later this week to consider whether a once obscure tax source should be dedicated to pay public safety pensions on a steep funding path.

Jack Mortell, president of the Evanston Firefighters Pension Board, conducted the research showing very little of PPRT monies were going to public safety pensions.

The issue is to be discussed at Wednesday’s city Finance & Budget Committee, scheduled for 5 p.m., at the Lorraine H. Morton City Hall Council Chambers, 909 Davis St.

The city has been receiving funds from the Pesonal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT), a tax established by the state to replace a tax on corporations that was declared unconstitutional, starting in 1979.

Until a few years ago, revenues from the tax which once topped $6 million went straight into the city’s General Fund and was divvied up from there.

But with the city approving a landmark policy putting funding of pensions on a 100% track by 2040, pension officials pushed for the PPRT funds to be dedicated to the payments, maintaining that was the state’s original intent.

Jack Mortell, the president of the Firefighter’s Pension Board, first called attention to the issue in 2022, finding a small percentage of the tax had been dedicated to pension payments in the 20 years previously.

— By Bob Seidenberg

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