PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Stuart L. Whitt has represented school districts and other taxing bodies throughout Illinois since 1977. He has significant experience in all areas of school and municipal law.

Mr. Whitt is one of few attorneys in Illinois with a strong background in matters involving the assessment of large, complex industrial properties, including electric generating stations and oil refineries. He regularly provides advice, counsel and litigation services to local governments serving communities which host Constellation’s nuclear power stations, as well as ExxonMobil’s, Marathon’s, WRB Refining LP’s, and PDV Citgo’s petroleum refineries.

In litigation matters, Mr. Whitt has regularly represented school districts and other local governments before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Appellate Court in all five Illinois Judicial Districts, and in Circuit Courts throughout the State.

Mr. Whitt has successfully represented school districts and other local governments in a wide range of litigation matters, most recently:

• Securing a five-year settlement agreement with Constellation Energy Generation, LLC for the LaSalle Nuclear Power Station in LaSalle County, Illinois providing for the payment of $130 million in property taxes for years 2022 through 2026;
• Securing a five-year settlement agreement with Constellation Energy Generation, LLC for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station in Grundy County, Illinois providing for the payment of $131.25 million in property taxes for years 2022 through 2026;
• Securing a six-year settlement agreement with Constellation Energy Generation, LLC for the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station in Will County, Illinois providing for the payment of $177 million in property taxes for years 2022 through 2027;
• Defending an elementary school district in an action filed by the company with the largest fleet of nuclear power stations in the country seeking approximately $6 million in property tax refunds by obtaining a complete dismissal of all claims.

Mr. Whitt has also been instrumental in crafting unique and creative property tax incentives and intergovernmental cooperation agreements between owners and taxing bodies to induce the construction and expansion of commercial and industrial properties within their jurisdictions, such as Aurora’s Chicago Premium Outlets, and CPV’s $1.3 billion Three Rivers Energy Center in Grundy County.

Mr. Whitt represents the Fair Assessment Information Resource Committee (FAIRCOM) which is a trust of local governments dedicated to the maintenance of fair and equitable assessments and taxation of electric generating stations throughout Illinois. In the Fall of 1997, the Illinois General Assembly enacted legislation providing for the deregulation of the electric utility industry within the State. Under Mr. Whitt’s leadership, FAIRCOM was successful in securing legislation which assured continued financial stability for local taxing bodies and provided for the appointment of the State’s Electric Utility Property Assessment Task Force of which he was a member. Mr. Whitt recently served as a member of the General Assembly’s Property Tax Reform and Relief Task Force.

Mr. Whitt has been privileged to represent the fastest-growing school districts in Illinois. He has a broad range of experience in school district referenda, and has been called upon to acquire elementary, middle, and high school sites, often utilizing innovative and creative financial arrangements. Mr. Whitt has also acquired sites through eminent domain or condemnation proceedings and has substantial experience representing school districts in the annexation and development of school sites, as well as the construction of school buildings. Under Mr. Whitt’s leadership, Whitt Law has provided legal services for construction projects at more than 125 public schools.

As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Whitt regularly represents the unique, challenging interests of fast-growing school districts, as well as the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, before the Illinois General Assembly. Mr. Whitt also represents the interests of school districts and other local governments in the General Assembly’s consideration of proposed changes to the State’s property tax system.