DeLuca’s Southland Reactivation Act Passes House Committee
DeLuca’s Southland Reactivation Act Passes House Committee (Springfield, IL) — A proposal spearheaded by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, to create jobs, lower property taxes and incentivize local commercial and industrial redevelopment advanced Thursday out of the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
“The Southland Reactivation Act is an exciting economic tool we can use to attract investment to our community,” DeLuca said. “By encouraging businesses to move into the area and create jobs, we’ll create an environment that expands the local tax base and drives down property tax costs on homeowners.”
DeLuca’s Act Would Benefit Underutilized Southland Properties
Senate Bill 3189 would create the Southland Reactivation Act, which institutes a special designation for underutilized property in the south suburbs of Chicago in Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton and Worth Townships. Identified properties that meet qualifying criteria would be assessed at 50% of the last known equalized assessed value. For the first year a property is certified as a southland reactivation property, the aggregate tax bill liability for the property cannot exceed $100,000. Discounts on the liability would decrease gradually, but continue for a total of 12 years.
“This could be a game changer for properties that have set empty for years,” DeLuca said. “With our area already positioned well with great infrastructure and access to transportation, I’m confident that this will attract significant investment that will provide benefits to our community for years to come.”
About Anthony DeLuca
State Representative Anthony DeLuca, Chairman of the House Cities & Villages Committee, is a strong voice for his constituents living in the 80th District. DeLuca continues to push state government to be more transparent while fighting for measures that will expand business development in the region with the goal of creating more good paying jobs.
DeLuca is a reformer. He passed leadership term limits and Ethics reforms for legislators to make state government more accountable to those it serves. DeLuca also sponsored legislation to stop politicians from announcing tax-payer funded projects within 60 days of an election for personal political gain.
DeLuca is a businessman. With nearly 25 years experience operating a third-generation family owned business in Chicago Heights, DeLuca understands the challenges business face in today’s economy. DeLuca is working to eliminate red-tape and excessive regulation that makes it more difficult to do business in Illinois. DeLuca is a longtime supporter of the regional efforts to attract more development through improving our transportation infrastructure, including the construction of a third regional cargo airport and the Illiana Expressway.
These new infrastructure projects could help bring thousands of jobs to our community as the region’s influence as a transportation hub grows. Prior to serving as Mayor of Chicago Heights for 6 years, DeLuca worked to improve local schools for 8 years as a member and president of the Bloom Township High School District 206 Board of Education. While on the school board, DeLuca was instrumental in reactivating and expanding the Industrial Education Program and believes in a quality education for all.
As mayor, DeLuca cut wasteful spending, reduced payroll, balanced the City budget, and improved public safety in Chicago Heights. DeLuca engineered a policy that sold unused city-owned property to private entities to get them back on the tax rolls. The goal was to attract business and new jobs. It worked. In fact, at a time when the unemployment rate in many area communities was rising, it was declining in the Chicago Heights, thanks in part to this initiative. DeLuca also established Ghana, West Africa, as Chicago Heights 4th Sister City.
DeLuca has been active in the community for many years as a coach and director for Chicago Heights Small Fry basketball and as a supporter of the Chicago Heights Drama Group. DeLuca has been a recipient of the Italo-American National Union David Award, the IAET Civic Pride Award, the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leaders Under 40, the Cook County Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award, the Best Legislative Voting Record by the Independent Voters of Illinois, the Highest Voting Record Supporting the Agriculture Community from Will County Farm Bureau, the Public Official of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), OSIA Columbus Patriot Award and the IL. Association of Park Districts Outstanding Legislative Leadership award. DeLuca graduated of Homewood- Flossmoor High School and Elmhurst University. He and his wife are the parents of three children.
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