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* Press release…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) introduced new legislation today that will sunset Illinois’ property tax code to force the General Assembly to reform the broken system.
House Bill 5924 creates a deadline of July 1, 2019 for the General Assembly to create a new property tax code that is fair and equitable throughout the entire state of Illinois. If the General Assembly fails to address this by the deadline, the current Illinois property tax code will be immediately removed from state law.
“It is plain and simple: the property tax system in Illinois is a failure, and it is time to start over,” Durkin said. “By setting a firm deadline for the General Assembly, it will force the legislature to come together in a bipartisan manner to find a compromise solution that will remedy this crisis and help bring Illinois back.”
A recent report from Attom Data Solutions shows Illinois with the second highest property taxes in the nation. Additionally, a Smart Asset report shows the statewide average effective tax rate in Illinois is 2.32 percent, almost double than the national average. A Chicago Tribune investigation earlier this year showed that the property tax system is so unfair in Cook County that taxpayers pay more if their house is worth less depending on where they live, unfairly targeting minority communities.
“We have seen both parties come together to work on accomplishing two very important issues this last year: a new education funding reform formula and a balanced budget with no new taxes,” Durkin said. “Now that bipartisanship in Illinois has a chance at working again, we must come together diligently and find a solution to this problem that is bankrupting Illinois taxpayers, crushing home values and stifling job growth throughout the state.”
Watch Leader Durkin’s full remarks on the new legislation at the City Club of Chicago earlier today by clicking here.
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Sam Yingling…
Today, dozens of local property tax payers showed up at the Lake County Board Financial and Administrative Committee Meeting to support SB2544, a bill that increases fairness and accountability in the office of the Lake County Assessor. The bill passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly with bi-partisan super-majorities in May.
Members of the Lake County Board ignored the taxpayers who support SB2544 and chose, instead, to pass a resolution opposing the bill that included baseless accusations and turned this taxpayer initiative into a political circus by recommending that the governor issue an amendatory veto on the bill. An amendatory veto by the governor would be nothing more than a back-door stall tactic that would deny taxpayers the right to vote in November.
“It’s disappointing but not surprising that some members of the Lake County Board are attempting to thwart the grassroots campaign to bring accountability to the office of the Lake County Assessor,” said Yingling. “I’m proud to be part of a grassroots campaign that is activating taxpayers across Lake County. When I’ve gone door to door in my district, constituents have been clear: the status quo is not working, and they want the governor to sign SB2544.”
A strong grassroots campaign has been built to support SB2544. Yingling has been airing TV ads in Lake County that have been reaching thousands of taxpayers at home every day. The campaign’s digital ad has been viewed close to 20,000 times on social media. Thousands of Lake County taxpayers have made phone calls to the governor to urge him to sign the bill. Hundreds more have called Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor to urge him to stop playing games and support the measure. In addition, the campaign is on track to collect over 1,000 signatures to deliver to the governor.
“I am hopeful that Governor Rauner will sign SB2544 instead of interfering with the will of the people as the Lake County Board has chosen to do,” concluded Yingling. “Anything short of a signed bill from the governor will deny the taxpayers of Lake County their right to vote this November to make the property tax system accountable to them.”
The measure puts the question on the ballot in November to let the people decide whether the position of Lake County Chief County Assessment Office, the Lake County Assessor, should be popularly elected by the people.
* Other bills and stuff…
* Illinois consumers may be in the dark about the future cost of electricity: Consumer advocate Illinois PIRG, a non-profit public interest research group, and energy firm GlidePath Development LLC filed suit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court saying the Illinois Commerce Commission repeatedly has violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act since launching its “NextGrid” project to identify, research and recommend options for improving Illinois’ electricity generation and delivery.
* Sun-Times Editorial: Sign the nine bills, Governor, and make Illinois safer and fairer
* Southern Illinois county to ask voters on gun ‘sanctuary’ issue: Williamson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jim Marlo told The Southern Illinoisan that the board has voted to let residents have input on the resolution to become a sanctuary county for gun owners, a reference to so-called sanctuary cities that don’t cooperate with aspects of federal immigration enforcement.
* Illinois racetracks seek OK to take wagers on ‘historical horse racing’: The Illinois Racing Board advanced a proposal Tuesday to allow video gambling on past horse races — even as the board’s attorney advised that the move would be illegal.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:47 pm
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Is he going to do the responsible thing and propose a way to help local government/schools make up for it? Lobbing a time bomb in the middle of the room and playing chicken about defusing it is just irresponsible. Not that he thinks this will become law.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:52 pm
He wants this taken up in Veto, after the next election, and resolved in 2019, before the remap election?
How long did it take to rewrite the Criminal Code?
The tightest of timeframes shows this is all about the press release.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:01 pm
If you’re going to file a bill to split off Chicago, it’s a great press pop, even though it will never move a millimeter.
This bill, sounds like a great plan, a strategic way to force action. Except it’s getting no committee hearing either.
It’s much easier for a reporter to write a story and gin up comments on a nothing bill when it’s something like the previous bill. Not so much here. But hey, maybe a reporter will take it seriously just long enough to write a story.
“Could Illinois lawmakers be force into acting on property taxes? If one lawmaker has his way…”
But probably not.
Comment by m Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:14 pm
Great the Republicans have come up with a way to fix real estate taxes. Will not get out of house. Madigan fault. A teofer for campaign trail. I feel sorry for our state. What leadership
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:26 pm
That’s a neat concept, but the absolute last thing we need in Illinois is more uncertainty regarding taxes at the State level.
Is it Pollyanna to think that something like this could be done without a “falling off a cliff” date looming out there? Just a straight reform bill?
Comment by Stormfield Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:29 pm
Until you figure out how to control spending at the local government level everything else is fluff. The assessment process has always been the boogieman. Yes there are serious problems in the Cook County system on how they assess. The rest of the Counties are assessing just fine. Nobody likes paying high taxes but the answer lies in the amount of money spent at the local level.
Comment by Baggs McCoy Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:34 pm
@Baggs McCoy- ever hear of local control? Get involved in local government by running for office or voting. You can also attend any of their meetings as they are all publicly posted, open to the public, and have time for public comment during the meetings. Otherwise, spending is your fault as much as anyone else’s.
Additionally, property taxes also reflect the stat s failure to address state obligations and then respond by pushing costs to local governments. Ask your local school district about that.
Finally, assessing outside of Cook isn’t just fine.
You comment like someone who has read or heard a few bullet points.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 4:02 pm