Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

In a state full of trivial campaign issues, this is one of the trivialest

Posted in:

Illinois

* David Giuliani in the Kankakee Daily Journal…

One of the state Republican Party’s latest mailers says Democratic state representative candidate Lisa Dugan “had her property taxes lowered four times.”

Although the flyer contains a number of allegations against Dugan, the property tax claim is particularly mystifying. It suggests she did something wrong by seeking lower taxes.

In Illinois — and the rest of the country, for that matter — property taxpayers have the right to appeal their property assessments. […]

“Lisa Dugan is a career insider, more concerned with herself than the people she used to represent,” Travis Sterling, the Republican Party’s executive director, said in an email. “The fact is, she worked the system and saved herself thousands of dollars, all the while voting repeatedly with and for Mike Madigan in Springfield. Together, their policies resulted in skyrocketing property taxes for the hard working people in the 79th district.”

* Maybe the state GOP ought to have a chat with Rep. Breen…

Citizens residing in Illinois’ 48th Legislative House District are invited to join State Representative Peter Breen (R-Lombard) and local tax assessment experts on Tuesday, August 28 for a free seminar on understanding the property tax assessment process and learning how to appeal tax assessments. The 1 ½-hour event will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 PM in the Glen Ellyn Police Department’s meeting room at 65 S. Park Boulevard in Glen Ellyn.

Joining Breen at the informational session will be Milton Township Assessor Chris E. LeVan and York Township Assessor Deanna Wilkins. A brief presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer session. “This event brings taxpayers together with their township tax assessors, so people can learn how their tax bill is created and what remedies are available to those who believe their assessment is too high,” said Breen.

Due to space constraints, RSVPs are requested.

I don’t mean to pick on Rep. Breen here. I get these property tax appeals workshop press releases all the time from legislators in both parties.

But the Giuliani column noted that while former Rep. Dugan’s assessed valuation declined a bit over four years, her tax bill actually rose by 8 percent during that same time period. And her local county board of review is controlled by Republicans.

So, how is that worse than a legislator setting up a meeting with two township assessors to help the few people who are savvy enough to quickly RSVP figure out how to lower their bills?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:14 pm

Comments

I wondered where David G. went. He wrote for the Ottawa Times and left immediately after Shaw bought it. Sorely missed. Did a grat job for readers in LaSalle County. This is typical.

Comment by wondering Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:23 pm
Legislators that host these property tax appeals “seminars” who refuse to support a property tax freeze and all the consolidation efforts are the biggest hypocrites in Springfield. Chicago Democrats lead by a wide margin in this category.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:25 pm
Rauner spent seven figures on broadcast TV ads attacking Mary Marwig for appealing her taxes (that made her a Madigan insider).

It was really the only oppo McAuliffe had against her, and she lost by 10.

Comment by Grand Avenue Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:25 pm
“So, how is that worse than a legislator setting up a meeting with two township assessors to help the few people who are savvy enough to quickly RSVP”

I have been to a number of these assessor/legislator meetings. I even helped with set-up for one. The local reps staff asks for the RSVP so they know how many handout to bring. Rarely are they full and as it is hosted in a public building I highly doubt they would send anyone away.

Comment by Texas Red Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:27 pm
Trivial. Yes. Legal. By all means. I wish Dems and Repubs would watchout for my overall tax burden like they watch out for their own.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:41 pm
I also heard she appealed a parking ticket once. Typical insider politics as usual.

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:44 pm
I bet she’s used coupons at the grocery store before too. Typically Madigan puppet.

Comment by Moby Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:50 pm
“Chicago Democrats lead by a wide margin in this category”

There’s 1 school district in Chicago. 1.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:01 pm
I appealed prop taxes for my mom’s house and ours. She went down $800 and we dropped by $500 in seperate counties. Simply submitted some forms. Guess we are deep insiders who are working the system.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:05 pm
Reminds me of the hit job that Quinn and company did on Rep. Brady for recognizing business losses on his tax returns.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:06 pm
==- Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 2:25 pm:==

You must be confused. Legislative Democrats have repeatedly voted for property tax freezes the last several years.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:12 pm
===Legislative Democrats have repeatedly voted for property tax freezes===

Yeah. lol

Not exactly “real” bills. One of them kinda was. But everyone knew none of them were going anywhere in the Senate.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:13 pm
Completely unrelated but what a horrid time in history to have the last name Giuliani

Comment by FDB Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:45 pm
===Legislators that host these property tax appeals “seminars” who refuse to support a property tax freeze and all the consolidation efforts===

Except that also prevents a tax rate decrease. One of the local county republicans was harping about a tax freeze like you suggested, then promptly ate his words when it would have prevented the rate reduction passed by the county for each of the last 4 years.

In this case, the republican was seen to be advocating for a tax increase.

It’s important to know the details of your area, and not just repeat without thinking the party line.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 3:46 pm
All legislators should be helping look for ways for their folks to lower their property tax burden.
The fact that they are using it in a campaign piece against someone is obviously hypocrisy but it’s campaign time truth matters little.

Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 4:07 pm
It would interesting to see a poll of what percent of voters know that property taxes are local, not statewide. I bet it is less than one would expect.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Aug 14, 18 @ 5:26 pm
I bet the same people think a third pounder is smaller than a quarter pounder.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 6:26 am
I’ve heard it through the grapevine that some politicians have even used legal deductions to lower their federal income tax. The shame. They should be exposed to.

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 15, 18 @ 7:45 am