* From the House Republican Leader…
Owners of vacant properties who are not actively seeking tenants or buyers, or making alterations while continuing to receive property tax relief could face a vacancy fraud complaint and pay a penalty under bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs).
“Corporations or unscrupulous property owners should not be able to receive special breaks or deals at the expense of communities. This bipartisan bill helps to address that as it relates to property taxes by giving local taxing bodies the ability to go after bad actors and ensure that property owners are paying what they actually owe, which will help our schools, other units of local government, and taxpayers,” said Durkin.
House Bill 2517 creates the Vacancy Fraud Act. The new act would allow a taxing body or representative of a taxing body to file a vacancy fraud complaint with the county board of review if property is receiving vacancy relief and the property owner is not actively attempting to lease, sell or alter the property. In addition, it establishes factors in determining whether or not vacancy fraud has occurred and the penalties.
Upon determination that an owner of vacant property is not actively attempting to sell, lease or alter the vacant property, the board of review and chief county assessment officer may impose the following penalties: Prohibit any vacancy relief until the property is sold or leased; require the payment of three times the amount of back taxes owed for any vacancy relief while the owner was not actively attempting to sell, lease or alter the vacant property; require the payment of interest on any back taxes. Repeat offenders within a five year period may be charged a penalty not to exceed 25% of the amount of back taxes.
Nothing like a little legislative jab at the guy with the “big” property tax troubles.
* But the hilarious aspect to Durkin’s move is that this is a Democratic-sponsored bill. Rep. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) sponsored the measure back on February 7th. It went to subcommittee, then wound up back in Rules Committee after it failed to meet the passage deadline.
I’ve reached out to Rep. Martwick and will let you know if he says anything.
- Real - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
I guess when Radogno says something she will get her own article too?
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
Well isn’t that special?
- odd - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:18 pm:
Maybe let’s not pass the property-tax bill sponsored by the property-tax lawyer. Clearly just another way for Martwick and others to gin up business.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
Any time the Pritzker Crew wants to take this campaign serious, I’ll be waiting.
===I guess when Radogno says something she will get her own article too?===
I guess that depends…
Will Pritzker’s Crew finally decide to engage before that happens, or just not do anything while Rauner creates a property tax narrative against JB.
The odds are… Radogno will have a Post before Pritzker’s Crew decide to do… something.
- Real - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
OW
The thing about this is the majority of people and avg voter is not paying attention to any of this. They are focused on other things and the disaster of Trump. Pritzker not saying anything this far out is not affecting much.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
I’m pretty sure Rich is just trolling the JB folks now. Lol.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
Shrewd move on Durkin’s part, hijacking the Dem’s bill and then making JBP an example of a ..” unscrupulous property owner”
- walker - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Durkin is playin’ with fire. This fraud bill mostly impacts those on the top of the wealth food chain, who can afford holding unused high-value houses.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
===The thing about this is the majority of people and avg voter is not paying attention to any of this.===
… and yet, article and newsclip and Rauner radio will have ready made headlines to put into Ads to continue this narrative for months.
See… this isn’t all about today. It’s about the accumulation of cited news they can use, again and again and again.
So, come state fair, Rauner will have newspaper articles, tv sound bites, columns, from THIS week… to use in real time… whenever.
“No one is paying attention”
The ad makers are, the web page designers are, the radio spot creators are…
and the Pritzker Crew… still nothing, no bite back.
Like I said, give the Pritzker Crew weeks, prepare, get it right, they roll out a first rate, quality product
That Pritzker Comm Crew? In real time? Working a hit against JB?
Not “that great”… I’m being polite… as Ahern was looking for JB.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Martwick’s co-hosting a Pritzker meet & greet June 6
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/18527862_10212852901382585_9029559775083453825_n.jpg?oh=6715268e0338f4649b51a28626a8e669&oe=59B58F73
- Texas Red - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
“Martwick’s co-hosting a Pritzker meet & greet June 6″
Durkin should be a chief co-sponsor !!
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
–Maybe let’s not pass the property-tax bill sponsored by the property-tax lawyer.–
OK. Don’t pass the Speaker’s property tax bills. Got it.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:52 pm:
Durkin earns a juice box and pudding cup from Big Daddy.
Glad to see that he’s so “focused.”
- Lech W - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
This is one way to spur development on Aster Street.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
Good to see Leader Durkin working hard on budget solutions! /s
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 1:53 pm:
Is not The Cook County chief county assessment officer, buddies with MJM? lol@that
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 2:03 pm:
Yeah!
We need more politics instead of accomplishments in Illinois. Thanks for - uh, I don’t know…letting us know you’re still around after a few years of doing - uh, I don’t know…being Brucie’s pool boy.
- Shake - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
Who Listens To Jim Durkin?
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 5:47 pm:
I’m all for this. The retail space owner in my building can serve exhibit A for this type of abuse. Vacant for three years right off of a busy six-way intersection in Lakeview. No attempt at remodeling the unit. Cut their property taxes in half and when I looked at the appeal, the argument was that it was vacant.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 17, 17 @ 6:59 pm:
These Republicans just better be careful… this state is different than the country. There is not one segment of the State unaffected by the infusion of Raunerism.
It just might back fire on those damn there R’s.