Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WAND…
More than 60% of Illinois voters supported a statewide advisory referendum last year calling for a property tax constitutional amendment. Former governor Pat Quinn is using that momentum to push lawmakers to pass a property tax relief bill [and put a constitutional amendment question before voters]. […]
Quinn told reporters in Springfield Wednesday that millionaires should pay a 3% surcharge on their income taxes to help lower property taxes for families and businesses. The Illinois Department of Revenue estimates the millionaire surcharge could generate $4.5 billion. […]
Lawmakers would need to pass the legislation by May 3 for the question to appear on the 2026 general election ballot.
Quinn also told reporters he had breakfast with Senate President Don Harmon Wednesday to talk about the plan. He hopes to speak with House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Gov. JB Pritzker soon.
* Meanwhile, Capitol News Illinois…
Four Democrats seeking the office of state comptroller put their pitches to the test on Tuesday at a candidate forum on Chicago’s South Side. […]
Each candidate proclaimed their support for a graduated income tax, which would require an amendment to the state constitution. Voters rejected such a proposal in 2020 despite its backing from Gov. JB Pritzker, but the candidates all said they support giving it another try.
[Sen. Karina Villa] argued the state needs more revenue to pay for progressive priorities and a graduated income tax, which has also been called the “progressive tax” or “fair tax,” would help.
“The fact that it has failed does not mean that we shouldn’t go at it again,” Villa said.
She added “the name sucked,” while criticizing how the amendment was pitched to voters. Villa said another try at passing it should tie the amendment to public school funding and property tax relief.
[Rep. Margaret Croke], a Pritzker ally, said a better name would have helped, but she defended Pritzker’s ability to sell it to voters.
“I thought the governor did an incredible job trying to push that initiative and I guarantee that if we were able to get it back on the ballot, which is something that I would support in the legislature … that same fervor and that same coalition-building would be utilized again,” Croke said.
* The Question: Do you support Quinn’s property tax relief amendment idea, prefer another run at the graduated income tax, think lawmakers should do something else, or nothing at all? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 10:59 am:
I think the state would be better off by enacting a graduated income tax and then settling on a spending plan which could include some sort of property tax relief but I don’t think the state should be bound by that.
- StarLineChicago - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:09 am:
I think Quinn’s proposal needs more specifics as to how it would directly work to lower property taxes. The lion’s share of my property tax bill goes to my local public schools. Would Quinn’s “millionaire’s tax” go directly to our public schools then or would it be some sort of pass-through deal that more broadly subsidizes property tax payments somehow? I think Sen. Villa’s framing of using graduated income taxes to put our public schools on better, more equitable footing for funding that means property tax levies specifically for public schools would be lowered would be a far better pitch for taxpayers and voters.
- GoneFishing - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:12 am:
Yes, if there is a graduated income tax and actual taxing body consolidation. Then you need some way to understand how each taxing body is spending the funds the state would give to them. It needs to be reformed on both sides. The taxing bodies should loose home rule status and have to ask permission for issueing bonds. With all of that then it might work but I don’t think the voters want all the strings attached.
- GoneFishing - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:14 am:
Or for every dollar they get from the state they just reduce what they can ask from the property tax. They can’t double dip.
- DS - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:15 am:
I second Starline Chicago and I particularly want to know how this would work for properties inside TIF districts.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:16 am:
I don’t trust Quinn. The cut back amendment hurt this state
I don’t trust the legislature I thought Lottery going to schools, yeah right. I thought we already had a blue ribbon committee on property taxes. Toll prices go up because of RtA fix but money not used for RTA?
Sure a progressive income tax might work but I would bet money would be no property tax relief. If you could lock that in I think it would pass.
- Stanley - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:21 am:
Springfield’s record on tax relief is abysmal.
Their record on tax hikes is exceptional.
Why would anyone trust them to cut state spending and encourage lower property taxes with all the unfunded mandates they pass?
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:25 am:
I like Quinn’s idea but the wording of the amendment would be critical. I only support the idea if the only use of the money generated is to give direct rebates to property owners. No giving it to school districts or other taxing bodies. But the GA is unlikely to pass such an amendment under those parameters as they would not be able to control the money.
- Sue - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:26 am:
There will not be any tax question on the ballot in 2026 with the Gov running for reelection- no way no how
- StephenBell - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:27 am:
An effective way to lower property taxes is by the implementation of a local school district income tax. I suggest a tax of 1/10 of one percent to increase each year for 20years by that same amount. Provide that money to a school district and refer to last year’s maximum possible tax levy. Deduct the amount of the local school district income tax from last year’s maximum possible levy to get this years maximum levy.
- TNR - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:32 am:
I voted for “Quinn’s idea” because explicitly targeting millionaires and property tax relief in the text of the referendum helps counter the most potent arguments of the opponents to the last progressive tax referendum: that it could raise taxes for everyone and we don’t know what Springfield will spend the new revenue on.
However, we shouldn’t give Quinn credit for it. The GA threw the advisory referendum on the ballot last year both to crowd out other referendum proposals and to test the idea with the electorate. Quinn, in his never ending quest for attention and relevancy, has thrown his arms around it and claimed it as his own. Besides, having Quinn associated with it might help sink it.
- Moist von Lipwig - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:33 am:
The “Fair tax” idea failed for two reasons: (1) people didn’t understand who was going to be paying more in taxes, and (2) people didn’t trust Springfield to do the right thing with the money. With Quinn’s idea, (1) it’s super to easy understand who’s paying the additional tax, and (2) it’s right there in the language exactly where the money goes. Unlike the Fair Tax, this can pass, and will help not just the state but the taxpayers.
- Think again - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:35 am:
Voted no change - if Quinn’s millionaire’s tax scheme were implemented, I’m very skeptical that property taxes would actually go down - and the Graduated income tax already had its vote and failed.
- Moist von Lipwig - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:36 am:
@TNR, the idea was originally promulgated in 2014 at Quinn’s urging to help schools. Quinn’s been talking about this for a very long time. They did a similar thing in Massachusetts and there’s no evidence rich people left the state.
- Lakefront - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:37 am:
I voted no change, but that’s not going to be a long-term solution for the governing party. I’m sure there’s hesitancy to run the same ballot question as in 2020, which has pretty much been Pritzker’s only high-profile loss since taking office. However, the winds are shifting and the Gov should take note. Economic populism is in the air, and pitched right, might snag more support than before.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:45 am:
Pat Quinn’s “Millionaire’s Tax” sounds a lot like Mike Madigan’s “Millionaire’s Tax.” The key difference is that Madigan directed the tax relief to school districts, Quinn’s sends relief to property owners.
- Shades of Purple - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:57 am:
A graduated income tax would work, but the wording of the last amendment was terrible. It was too broad. Authorize additional tax on millionaires. Fine. Authorize additional tax on the top X% of earners. Fine. But merely authorize a non-flat tax? That is well beyond what the proponents said they would do.
- Mason County - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 11:59 am:
The usual, tax somebody with more money than you with promises that the extra money will be used wisely and other taxes can be cut.
[Sen. Karina Villa] argued the state needs more revenue to pay for progressive priorities and a graduated income tax, which has also been called the “progressive tax” or “fair tax,” would help.
At least she is honest. She wants an ever more expanded government to finance her political and ideological goals.
It Never ends. No tax increase on ‘millionaires’ will result in property tax relief of any significance. But you don’t have to fool all the people all the time just- 51% of them.
No end to this.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:01 pm:
Quinn’s idea, a fantastic idea supported by voters. The progressive tax failed, no need to flail away at a dead issue, like Republicans did with the ACA (they could have spent all that time improving it instead). Like the ILGOP and doomers do with their red state economic platform (see superminority status).
In the hands of proponents, there is a problem with PR. The campaign has to be run much better this time, than the Fair Tax. They’d have to start messaging early and strong, instead of lagging and getting defined by the opponent. With Democratic types, that may not be the most likely outcome.
- Incandenza - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
Graduated income tax - it’s cleaner, gives the state many more options for future changes. It matches federal income taxes, it just makes the most sense.
An underrated way to improve property taxes? Be more efficient with local gov services. How? Constrain sprawl, encourage density. More sprawl means more utilities, roads, sewage, etc. spread over fewer property tax payors. If the same road has only 5 households of single-family homes paying property taxes vs. 20 households in duplexes, which will have a more efficient use of property tax revenue on infrastructure? Also, IL needs to consolidate local governments: when we have more than any other state, including California, there’s a problem.
- Sue - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
I have a hard time understanding how Quinn’s idea would work as a constitutional amendment. It feels too specific to prescribe a specific tax rate, income cut-off, and prescribed use of it. And how would you write into the amendment a requirement that it be used for “property tax relief”? Who gets it? Will the state just send out checks to everyone and say “this is relief for your property taxes”? Or will money go to schools with the promise that this reduces the schools’ need to increase their levies?
- Rambler47 - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
Voted Quinn’s idea, for much of rationale articulated by Moist von Lipwig. His concept builds on goals of Edgar’s property tax/ income tax swap proposal in the 90’s, and failed graduated income tax amendment more recently, directly addressing the issues that kept them from passing.
Also, I wonder where Madigan got the Millionaires tax idea.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
graduated tax.
It’s the only one which structurally changes the tax code.
It did get a majority of votes the last time, just not a large enough majority to pass.
There’s also the benefit that the opposition to it is already known from the last time around, and a better start to finish strategy can be implemented.
We know the main opposition point was “this will give them the power to raise taxes on you anytime”, which while technically true isn’t any different from the situation as it exists today.
To that end, pair the amendment question on the ballot with a statement that a no vote will also increase taxes by x% amount. It would have to be worded carefully to meet the one-issue requirement, but it needs to be done to neuter the nonsense claims made in opposition.
There may be other opposition to it, but the last opposition messaging chose what they thought was the best attack against it. the 2nd best opposition to it, whatever it is, by default would not be as strong. That’s really all that’s needed for it to get across the finish line.
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:13 pm:
Graduated income tax. While avoiding toxic language like more revenue for progressive priorities. At the same time, tie it to property tax relief and eliminating the estate tax.
- Think again - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:17 pm:
All this trouble to increase revenues - The Dems have the solution in their hands right now - simply raise the flat income tax rate. Show the courage of you convictions
- ;) - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:21 pm:
Voted something else simply because neither option would actually result in lowered property taxes, and would basically just be government cash grabs on top of what they’re already doing now. No thanks.
- Cler dcn - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:28 pm:
I could come to grips with graduated tax depending on income level and projected revenue. It probably exists but I don’t know the specifics.
- Cler dcn - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:31 pm:
Me above on graduate and I voted something else given unknown but support graduated if numbers look ok as stated above.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:50 pm:
“The taxing bodies should loose home rule status … .”
Hard no on that.
- My Day - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 12:52 pm:
Something else. To the best of my knowledge, the state does not levy any property tax nor receive any revenue from property taxes; so I am unclear and do not trust how a state collected income tax would decrease my property tax bill.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:00 pm:
===should loose===
This is my pet peeve. It’s lose, not loose. Please do better.
Also an advertisement is an ad, not an add.
- City Zen - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:07 pm:
==Quinn also told reporters he had breakfast with Senate President Don Harmon==
Pat lives less than a mile down the road from Harmon’s office. Bet he stops in frequently.
Sure, let’s go with Pat’s plan, albeit with a provision that if more than 1% of the revenue generated is not redistributred in the form of property tax rebates, that the entire law is null and void.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:13 pm:
The State of Illinois needs a graduated income tax.
Good on Pat Quinn for starting a discussion, but what he is describing is not the best policy option and may not actually result in a reduction of millage. A graduated income tax would give the state flexibility to raise revenue in a manner that is no longer regressive.
Also — taxing income of the very wealthy to specifically aid property owners essentially eliminates the impact for a huge portion of people living in this state that don’t own property and it’d be pretty unlikely for their landlords to suddenly lower rents.
===“I thought the governor did an incredible job trying to push that initiative”===
It is important to learn from a loss.
===that same fervor and that same coalition-building would be utilized again===
Yes — but some things will have to be done at least a little bit differently. Having a coalition and then ignoring their input is not the best use of a coalition.
Usually the term “incredible” isn’t used to describe a loss in a positive way, but here we are.
- help - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:18 pm:
When you take inflation into account, state funding for vital state services is actually decreasing. CTBA has some good data to back this up. Not to mention the federal funding cuts. The only way to truly fund public services and public education is through a graduated tax. You can call that a millionaires tax or another name but there’s no way we’re ever going to hit the Evidence Based Funding target without significant sustainable revenue. That is also the way we eventually reduce property taxes.
- JB13 - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:21 pm:
Any graduated income tax must be bound constitutionally to property tax relief.
The graduated income tax amendment failed in large part because far too many people - sensibly - didn’t believe for a second that the Springfield bunch wouldn’t immediately use that revenue to jack up spending and salaries, while laughing all the way to their sweetened retirements at the mooks who actually believed their property taxes would decrease.
- City Zen - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:24 pm:
==When you take inflation into account, state funding for vital state services is actually decreasing==
When you take inflation into account, state funding for pensions is actually increasing.
- Our Joe - Thursday, Nov 20, 25 @ 1:36 pm:
G.R.I.T. is the sounder approach. Millionaire surcharge is the sexier.