Many of the people affected by these historic property tax increases are in lower-income communities. Bad economic policies pushed by Democrats have created an environment of businesses either closing for good or moving elsewhere to greener pastures, shifting the tax burden to support schools and local governments on to residents. Homes are also being improperly assessed and overvalued, creating a vicious cycle of tax increases with no relief in sight.
As he seeks a third term in the Governor’s office with an eye toward a run for the White House in 2028, Governor JB Pritzker has suddenly realized the overwhelming property tax problem Illinois has. Unfortunately, he’s late to the party and his policies have caused this crisis. Higher taxes in Illinois are pushing businesses and residents out, and that trend is continuing. Those who remain are left to shoulder the burden even more.
Proposals being brought forth by Democrats, which could be considered during the current Veto Session, could make the current situation even worse! And that is unacceptable.
Pritzker is blaming high property taxes on a lack of investment in education in Illinois, and while that may be a part of the problem, what’s needed is real reform and ideas brought to the table by people who understand what is going on. House Republicans have brought forth dozens of bills aimed squarely at attacking the property tax problems in Illinois, but Democrats refuse to acknowledge them. Bills and proposals fall on deaf ears at the committee level, and Republican ideas are never brought forth to the House Floor for consideration.
Bills related to delivering property tax reform and relief introduced by Republicans include:
· HB 2639 increases the General Homestead Exemption Amount.
· HB 2642 Improves the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.
· HB 2640 increases the low-income senior freeze.
· HB1495 creates a property tax relief pilot program.
· HB 2641 creates a school district levy exemption for seniors.
· HB 1496 limits property assessment increases.
· HB 1321 provides that property tax collections in excess of 150 percent of the previous year’s amounts be refunded to taxpayers.
State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has continuously pushed for property tax reforms. In addition to introducing HB 1321, Ugaste’s HB 9 takes a common-sense approach. HB 9 would provide property tax relief to all Illinoisans while ensuring the state does not fall further behind on pension payments. The bill requires the state to set aside 25% of the budget (which can be realistically done), pay its statutory obligation for pensions, and send the rest to the school districts; then, for every dollar the district receives, it must lower its property tax levy on a dollar-for-dollar basis. In this fiscal year alone, HB9 would have lowered property taxes, which affect all Illinoisans whether they own property or not, by approximately $2.8 billion. The estimated savings over 21 years is nearly $82.4 billion.
Ideas and solutions like Rep. Ugaste’s deserve to be heard and considered, but the majority party refuses to do its job while putting politics before good public policies. And while Democrats are focused on illegal immigration, bailing out public mass transit shortfalls, championing failing green energy policies that are driving up energy costs, and sparring with the federal government, House Republicans stand ready to implement better policies to help all Illinoisans.
It’s interesting that during his seventh year in office, Governor Pritzker has finally admitted there is a property tax problem in Illinois. Solutions are out there, Governor. Democrats in Illinois have an opportunity during the current Veto Session to acknowledge Republican proposals that would help ALL Illinoisans, no matter their political affiliation. Sadly, the likely outcome is more of the same - politics over policy, and rhetoric over solutions.