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Rauner vetoes bill to allow private companies to collect delinquent taxes and fees

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* The governor just announced the signing of a ton of bills and I’m still going through them, but here’s one of a few he vetoed…

Veto Message for SB 2767
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate,
99th General Assembly:

Today I return Senate Bill 2767, which would allow certain counties to collect delinquent taxes and fees through private debt collectors.

Current law authorizes large, Chicago area counties to pursue court-adjudicated fines, such as for violation of county ordinances, through private debt collection. Senate Bill 2767 would expand that law to also apply to taxes and fees.

Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the country, and those taxes continue to rise. Many property owners struggle to make tax payments. The current tax sale process provides both counties and taxpayers with a system through which to address unpaid or delinquent taxes. Referring unpaid tax bills to private debt collectors would penalize property owners who are already facing skyrocketing property taxes. First and foremost, we need to make property taxes more affordable.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 2767 entitled “AN ACT concerning local government”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR

Thoughts?

…Adding… Rauner also signed HB 5529 today, which critics have said would allow school districts to continue getting around tax caps by over-levying a non-capped fund (like transportation) and then transferring excess money into a capped fund (like education).

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:04 pm

Comments

it looks like the veto can be overridden based on the House and Senate votes. But if these private companies take 1/3 of the collected amount as their fees, aren’t counties just hurting themselves by farming out this work?

Comment by 47th Ward GOP Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:07 pm
I’m on the other side of the isle and this is the first veto of his I agree with wholeheartedly.

Especially when there’s no obligation for the local government to make certain that the taxes and fees assessed are accurate and tax compliance is a standard part of the cost of administration of the tax. There should be no need for profit making entities to come in and do the work that the government should already be prepared and capable of doing.

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Rauner is using common sense. Hope his veto is sustained.

Comment by atsuishin Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:12 pm
More BigBrain local control….we will tell you when and how….very smooth

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:18 pm
=There should be no need for profit making entities to come in and do the work that the government should already be prepared and capable of doing.=

Exactly what ASFCME has been saying, no?

Comment by MSIX Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:18 pm
Does anyone have the full list of signed bills and vetoes?

Comment by Grass Bowl Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:20 pm
Oops, should be AFSCME.

Comment by MSIX Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Grass Bowl- Does this help?

http://ilga.gov/reports/default.asp

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:24 pm
This veto actually seems to be the right decision. Anyway, how would this be better for smaller counties than the current system of auctioning off tax-delinquent properties? The counties recover the full amount (less admin costs) in that case. (I suppose going private might make more sense in locales where investors aren’t interested in buying taxes, though.)

Comment by Crispy Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Anon221 - it doesn’t look like ilga.gov has updated yet to me

Comment by Grass Bowl Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:27 pm
Not for today yet, I don’t think. Looks like last vetoes listed were for last Friday (July 29). Bookmark it for later.

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:30 pm
A worthwhile veto.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:40 pm
The logic seems a little odd to me. You owe delinquent taxes but your taxes are too high so we don’t really want to go after you for them.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:49 pm
Good veto

Comment by scott aster Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 2:56 pm
With his veto, Rauner poses as a protector of the beleagured property taxpayer. But in signing HB 5529, he is facilitating higher property taxes, as school districts evade the tax caps by over-levying a non-capped fund and then transferring excess money into a capped fund. Seems like he wants to have it both ways!

Comment by anon Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 3:00 pm
To the post.

Whats good for the goose should be good for the gander. How bouts them unlaid state bills.

I refer to Rauner as a hypocrite. One only has to read the….Adding…

Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 3:45 pm
Wait a minute, I thought that we were trying to be business friendly and grow the economy. How is this veto that stifles a business sector being friendly to a for profit businessman? This needed legislation was going to be a boost to the debt collection industry. 1.4% with a stroke of the pen, killed off an entire sector of business.

I am shocked, absolutely shocked that 1.4% would be so anti-business. What ever happened to growing the economy and being more competitive before being compassionate?

Comment by Huh? Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 4:23 pm