* From the end of session…
“Please, members of the General Assembly in the majority, do not travel around the state holding sham hearings about a balanced budget,” Rauner said. “Don’t go through a process of just trying to create phony headlines.”
* From yesterday…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says $100 in 2005 is worth $128 today. So, not all that far off from 32 percent. And, therefore, not exactly outrageous.
* But it gets even better…
Concrete reforms to Illinois’ “brutally high” property tax rates are needed to encourage growth in the Land of Lincoln, Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a visit to a Peoria real estate agent’s home Wednesday. […]
Rauner’s administration noted in a news release that the family’s property tax bill has increased by more than $1,900 — more than one-third — since they bought their North Peoria home in 2005, which is borne out by county tax records.
The bulk of that increase came in the first three years they owned the home, with the taxes on it having gone up just over $200 — about 3 percent — since the turn of the decade, according to those same county records.
A $200 increase in 7 years? Not exactly “brutal.” That’s way below the inflation rate.
* Look, there’s no doubt that Illinois property taxes are a real problem. You will not get an argument from me. I have written repeatedly that the Democrats need to stop battling this freeze idea just because they despise the man who’s pushing it.
And he did have some good examples of high property taxes while he’s been out on on the campaign trail taxpayer-financed trip. But it’s really difficult to take the man seriously when he makes a “brutally high” mountain out of a mole hill, and particularly when he warned the General Assembly against doing the very same thing.
*** UPDATE *** Mayor Ardis is a Republican, by the way…
The governor says he’s willing to do a four-year freeze and allow people to control their property tax levy by voter referendum. But people like Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis say a property tax freeze doesn’t address the biggest issue.
“It polls really well. But the problem with it is, it doesn’t add a dime of revenue to the state revenue stream,” Ardis said. “It’s not going to anything to help them do anything to balance their budget, that is the worst one in the country.”
Ardis says the state might see new business growth if it could put as much emphasis on resolving the budget crisis as it is on property tax relief.
- stl boy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:42 am:
There’s only one thing “brutal” in this State, and he’s in the Governor’s seat.
- Reality Check - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:46 am:
Bruce Rauner doesn’t care if well-informed people don’t take him seriously, because he doesn’t respect the people of Illinois enough to think they won’t be fooled by his threadbare blame game.
- Shemp - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:51 am:
You want to fix the property tax issue, treat the source, not the symptoms. Fux our horrible school funding system,pass wor comp reform (yes, tort is a levy too), and make fire/police pony up more
- Shemp - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:53 am:
Pony up more of their pension controbutions. Thatvis set in statute and hasn’t changed forever. As fire/police pensions have rocketed up, pension levues have increased dramatically but employees are not contributing more.
- JustRight - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:54 am:
This post is very sporadic. You’re claiming Rauner is falsely representing increased property taxes without once citing the actual “rate” in which these people are being taxed. Property values plummeted in 2008, so this is very misleading.
- AC - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:57 am:
The purpose of the freeze isn’t to fix property taxes, it’s to put the squeeze on wages and services at the local level. Fixing the property tax issue would require more state revenue than most legislators are willing to consider. That doesn’t mean the Democrats shouldn’t, but like taxing retirement income, they appear unwilling. If I were developing a tax policy, I’d match the lowest income tax level in Wisconsin (5.84%) and dedicate a portion of that to local property tax reduction. Combining this with Manar’s school funding bill would go a long way toward fixing property tax issues in Illinois.
- Can - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:57 am:
Reality Check @8:46 is exactly right. He’s hoping less informed voters will be won over by his ridiculous duct tape ads shot in the world’s cleanest workshop.
- Moderate Repub - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:59 am:
Look I’m no Rauner fan - I put this mess at his feet. But to the point of the 32% increase.
oO not exactly brutal - I agree. But what about that 32% growth in relation to average salary growth and home value?
Compensation has been almost stagnant since the recession for many - and for many in the burbs, their home values have declined.
I think there is more to it then just the 32%.
But in total agreement on the hypocrisy of the obvious phony headlines.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 8:59 am:
Property taxes are a hot button item at the moment. People who don’t escrow just wrote out their checks to pay the township tax collector. Heck, I’m not happy either … just wrote three checks myself. But I know most the money is going to the schools and I recognize the money has to come from somewhere.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:03 am:
== Pony up more of their pension controbutions. Thatvis set in statute and hasn’t changed forever. As fire/police pensions have rocketed up, pension levues have increased dramatically but employees are not contributing more. ==
Been previously addressed by the courts. Not happening for current employees unless it is a trade-off of a new benefit for a higher contribution, and it is voluntary to choose the new benefit / contribution rate.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:08 am:
Taxpayers are paying for this campaign dog-and-pony show?
For crying out loud, someone tell Gov. Deadbeat that the state is a little short right now.
How’s about he tap his $70 million campaign fund when he’s trolling for free local media?
- sonny chiss - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:10 am:
Reality Check and Can are on it. He simply believes he can fool enough of the people all of the time. I hope he is proven wrong.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:14 am:
If you watch the CMS footage of the Moline visit, that family bought the house after the previous owner had renovated it. The current homeowner was shown inside her house telling Rauner the history of her purchase. So, I would expect the property taxes would have gone up.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:18 am:
=== I have written repeatedly that the Democrats need to stop battling this freeze idea just because they despise the man who’s pushing it.===
True, and you’re exactly right, but only to a point. It’s not simply that Democrats despise Rauner that they won’t support a property tax freeze. It is also, and more importantly, because a property tax freeze by itself is terrible public policy and is opposed by school boards and local governments across the state.
Unless we want to raise the income tax well above 5%, and find a lot of new revenue from other sources, a property tax freeze can’t work. That’s why Democrats haven’t embraced this idea.
That we also despise Rauner is just validation. Lol.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:21 am:
The goal of this traveling circus isn’t to put pressure on promoting anything to pursue compromise or to even show a path out of Rauner’s purposeful destruction.
No. No, this traveling circus is designed to deflect blame and at the same time put the blame on the silent Democrats, deafly silent Democrats, as to keep the destruction continuing, the framing of blame continuing, and the deflection of Rauner’s own actions… yep, continuing.
Democrats, daily, let Rauber frame the picture, with mockable, phony, sham photo-ops, attached to Rauner Word Jumble ridiculousness… that, again, will face no resistance.
Rauner goes out to do these disingenuous things… because he can. He can, uninhibited.
Rauner also asked Dems not to have hearings on Rauner, the budget, the damage, or even solutions… as Rauner… as Rauner does what he asks Dems not to do. Ironic, no?
No, not ironic. It’s planned genius, as Dems stay silent… because Rauner bet they would… and seems to be betting correctly.
- B.C. - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:30 am:
My property taxes (in supposedly low property tax Chicago) went up 42 percent last year alone.
== Democrats need to stop battling this freeze idea ==
Agreed. The House should pass the Senate two-year freeze. How can Rauner veto that?
“It-doesn’t-go-far-enough” is always a weak argument.
- AC - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:32 am:
==this traveling circus is designed to deflect blame and at the same time put the blame on the silent Democrats==
Excellent observation. That certainly explains why Rauner didn’t want any competing “phony headlines”.
- Hit Em With the Hein - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:34 am:
Governor, come to my house. My property taxes have gone up 30% in 2 years!
Oh, why you ask? My EAV was reassessed up 33% and guess what it’s still not assessed correctly (high enough) based on actual value. EAV in our area has sky rocketed in the last 5 years which means our levy rates have gone down thanks to growth and EAV. He just doesn’t get it. But let’s hard freeze our schools for two year so they have to ask for a referendum which will in fact raise my property taxes even though normal growth would have kept them steady! Come on man!
With that being said he still wins in ‘18. Billionaire Blago friend and Mike Madigan supported Dem loses by 5 points to Billionaire Carhart wearing, property tax fightin’, 7 home ownin’, Bruuuuce. Sad!
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:41 am:
Ok, 32% increase in property taxes over the last 12 years is “brutally” high.
What about a 400% increase in backlog of unpaid bills in just 2 1/2 years? What adverb would the Guv use to describe how high that is? (And Madiganly is not a word)
- Bottom Line - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:49 am:
Bruce Rauner needs to be voted out of office. The main reason is that he can not and will not do the job as governor.
At the end of the day, the final budget will have property tax rebates not just a freeze.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:52 am:
===Mayor Ardis is a Republican, by the way…===
And perfectly illustrates the difference between true Republicans and Raunerites…
- Huh? - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:53 am:
I am outraged that my 2017 property taxes are 164% higher than in 1998. Where is the money going? Why isn’t the State government protecting us homeowners from these MASSIVE and burdensome tax increases. /s
On the other hand, my 2017 taxes are 10% less than in 2010.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:56 am:
Mayor Ardis here, specifically, is a great clarification as to why municipal and other “local governmental” elected leaders grasp the truth of…
… polled well thiughts don’t equate to sound governing policy.
It’s not a partisan issue. It’s a governing concern, irregardless to party, be it Democratic, Republican, and in Bruce’s case, Raunerite.
- whatthewhat - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 9:59 am:
I live in a high tax area and I am grateful for my taxes because we have awesome schools, great roads, and I feel safe drinking the water. Do I like paying taxes? Of course not, but I rather have someone spray for mosquitos and a library with books for kids to read.
People think their property taxes are “outrageous” because politicians tell them that. If you look at your bill and think about the services paid for by those dollars - services many don’t even realize they are getting - people might be a little more understanding.
- come on - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:00 am:
To dismiss this family’s bill over the last decade as simply the nature of things is pretty freaking callous, Rich.
1) Consider the value of their property
2) Consider Illinois income growth (worst in the nation over Great Recession era) https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-has-the-worst-personal-income-growth-in-the-u-s/
3) Consider the Peoria economy (one of only eight metros in the Midwest currently in a recession, according to Moody’s) http://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/2017MoodysEconomyILForecast.pdf
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:03 am:
===as simply the nature of things is pretty freaking callous, Rich===
It’s hard to argue with someone who believes in magic.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Willie, Rauner is the IL GOP.
He bankrolls it, and GOP legislators have marched in lockstep with him on every major vote. He could not be doing what he’s doing without their unanimous support.
Conversely, a relatively small number of them could end this by breaking with him.
- Red Rider - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Maybe you should read the small print before you buy. You bought it, pay up.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:23 am:
===Willie, Rauner is the IL GOP.
He bankrolls it, and GOP legislators have marched in lockstep with him on every major vote. He could not be doing what he’s doing without their unanimous support.===
Can’t be refuted. Based in fact. Based in actions, words, outcomes.
I guess, in a truly admitted Pollyana way, wishing more than having a single bit of truth besides that Pollyana hope is indeed this…
===Conversely, a relatively small number of them could end this by breaking with him.===
… which sheepishly allows me to continue my unfounded belief, from 2015 to this very day, there is a difference … Raunerite and Republican.
It’s solely on me. No snark, it is my bad. I guess me hoping more and ignoring more and wishing more allies your last sentence have weight I don’t truly have in argument, that I freely admit, freely but sadly too.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:25 am:
allies = along
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:25 am:
===a relatively small number of them could end this by breaking with him.===
Quite a few broke with Brownback placing math over politics. They tried it his way and it didn’t work. Time to move on. I wish some of the legislators in our GA would find the conviction to follow Kansas’ lead. And, as Word said, it wouldn’t even take as many as there were in KS.
- Markus - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:26 am:
Rich Miller- “The impasse is the most intentionally vicious act ever committed by this state government on its own people. Period.”
I can’t get that line and the supporting article out of my head.
Any Agency head executing a state contract for FY2018 is committing fraud and should be prosecuted. How I wish that were legally true, but alas it’s only a moral failure. Morality is very much in short supply in this administration.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:47 am:
DuPage County taxes are some of the highest in the nation. What does the Governor mean when he says he wants a permanent freeze? If he gives me a freeze do I never pay a higher bill? Do I stay at the same percentage based on assessment? If I stay at the same percentage my bill still goes up. If you keep it at a static price will the value of my house go down, since my schools and other bodies will be cutting their programs and services? Devil is in the details.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 10:49 am:
Brownback doesn’t have millions of dollars to primary his own members.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Ardis is a GOPies and one of those local officials who doesn’t buy DopeyDuct doctrine that goes “we $uper$tars (insert name here) will tell you local rubes what to control and how to control it. And we begin with property taxes so our 14er pals can stuff some more $$ in their pockets while parents with school age kids can pay higher fees.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:09 am:
Ardis is spot on.
@Wordslinger speaks the truth- only one way at bring this to a real solution (which offers no advantage to Rauner campaigning at this time) and it could force MJM into a corner as well.
If enough of the rank and file would wise up, it might be an opportunity for new, genuine leaders to rise to the top.
- 37B - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 11:56 am:
Found my 2005 tax return and compared it to my 2016 return. Property taxes went up 85.49% during that period of time. This is in West Suburban Cook County. 32% looks puny by comparison.
I wish my property taxes were less. That would be great. But my schools (and faculty)are excellent, my roads are kept up, infrastructure is maintained, and the police, fire departments and civil servants are responsive. I’m getting what I’m paying for.
Once again, it’s the price of civilization.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
“Ardis says the state might see new business growth if it could put as much emphasis on resolving the budget crisis as it is on property tax relief.”
I agree. The government paying its bills sets off positive repercussions, which benefits the economy. Pay your bills, and those you pay can pay their bills and buy stuff.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
I was going to comment on Ardis but I don’t want the Peoria SWAT team to raid my house.
- 37B - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
@Shemp - 8:51 am:
I know it was probably a typo but “fux” has the potential to be a great new way to describe a situation where the fix that is applied to a problem makes that problem exponentially worse.
As in “Mr. Rauner said he would fux Illinois’ problems and he certainly has.” Possibly beyond all recognition.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
The problem with the property tax freeze is its kinda a backhand punch to the locals. the current budget deal cuts revenue shared with locals and then with a freeze stops them from increasing revenue to offset the money the state is taking back.
any mayor not objecting to this should beware their local budget.
The property tax freeze is a pure 100% payoff from the gov to the people to tru and get reelected. It functionaly serves no real State purpose. also local taxes are technically controllable by local voters. so voters have a voice. the gov is destroyinh the state so he can give something to people so he can buy the election. Rauner just wants to promise a chicken in every pot no matter what he wrecks to get it
- Ghost - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
if the gov would push to legalize marijuanna we could get some revenue and some pot with our chicken instead….
- Harry - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
Rich makes a great point, 32% is barely more than cost of living. It’s only about 2.2% per year, compounded. If anything, the local taxing bodies should be commended for controlling their costs and the levy.
Anyway, IL property taxes are a problem mostly because the State contributes so little to K-12 education. A property tax freeze on schools has to be accompanied by increased State funding, on which Rauner is silent.
The old “tax swap” idea. That failed in large part because its advocates got greedy; it wasn’t a swap, it was a big net tax increase. I always thought an honestly revenue neutral proposal might have had legs.
But at this point, why would anyone believe anything coming out of Springfield, from either side or even both sides together if they could agree on something?
- ILGOV2018 - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
The bulk of that increase came in the first three years they owned the home, with the taxes on it having gone up just over $200 — about 3 percent — since the turn of the decade, according to those same county records.
So that $200 is roughly, 100 large Dunkin Donut or 100 grande Starbuck’s coffees in that same time period. Big deal!
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
Forget the tax swap, let’s go all in.
Throw in a a full-scale freeze on property values.
The tax freeze only limits how much local government can take from its property base, it’s not a freeze in individual bills.
So let’s freeze individual property values. In most cases that drives tax bills more than anything.
If you sell your home for more than the frozen value, you get up to the frozen amount and your local government pockets the remainder.
How’s that for tax relief, comrade?
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
I think my property taxes are too high, like a lot of folks. I don’t think the answer is a one-size-fits-none freeze. I comp my home’s assessed valuation every year; most years it’s reasonably in sync, but this year it went up when comps, including the house next door, sold below market. Sought and received a fair reduction at the Board of Review and taxes went down. Here in SPI, as long as we have a desire to have good schools, quality local government, and a nice library, taxes ain’t gonna be cheap. Oh, and a world-class airport that no one uses.
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
Interesting comment from Mayor Ardis. He was a big supporter of the Governor early on.
- Newsclown - Thursday, Jun 8, 17 @ 6:14 pm:
“The property tax rates here in Potempkin Village are outrageous! We polled these five people who are all staunch County Republicans, and they totally agree with whatever opinion or slogan I shove in their pie holes, because they know who’s the boss here…. now, we’ll have to cut this short: I’m afraid the ten angry protestors down the street will outshine the six, planted and paid-for local supporters I called in. But just LOOK at the visuals, and you have to accept my reality as your own!”
- Rabid - Friday, Jun 9, 17 @ 1:10 am:
Tick tock croc