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Oh, for crying out loud

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Illinois

* My own opinion of this story is that the most prominent disabled veteran in Illinois should not have turned down this state property tax break for two reasons: 1) Rejecting it could very well discourage other, much needier veterans from applying; and 2) Going through the process means she could see for herself if it was working for her fellow disabled vets. So, yeah, she should’ve taken the tax break and she should most definitely tell the Sun-Times to stick it where the sun don’t shine…

No one likes to pay property taxes. This year, the owners of 27,288 homes across Cook County don’t have to.

Their property tax bills: $0.

That they’re paying nothing means the rest of the county’s 1.8 million property taxpayers — the remaining homeowners and business owners — have to pick up the slack, a total of just under $102.8 million.

The pay-nothing bills result from a host of property tax exemptions the Illinois General Assembly has given homeowners over the years. The biggest tax breaks go to homeowners 65 and older and disabled veterans.

Among the homeowners whose property taxes are entirely wiped off the books because they are disabled veterans are U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, former Ald. James Balcer and some veterans who are now Chicago police officers, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found.

Yeah, let’s gin up taxpayer envy against somebody who left large parts of her body on a battlefield. Such a lucky ducky for having a 70+ percent disability rating! Wish I had thought of that! /s

The Illinois General Assembly did not put any income limits on the property tax break, partly because doing so would’ve needlessly complicated the application process. If you’re disabled because you served in your country’s military, you’re given the break.

We can talk about economic philosophies all day (I am generally opposed to narrowing the property tax base), but who’s gonna sponsor the bill to yank away this benefit from disabled American military veterans?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:01 am

Comments

Isn’t the senior citizen freeze means tested? Certainly makes it more complicated, yet…too bad seniors, no break for you.

Comment by Hippopotamus Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:08 am
== did not put any income limits on the property tax break, partly because doing so would’ve needlessly complicated the application process ==

This should be applied to more public benefits. Means testing creates a costly bureaucracy just to make sure the “undeserving” aren’t getting a single dime from the state. It’s ridiculous and usually means the most vulnerable can’t access the benefits because of the application process

Comment by Incandenza Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:10 am
===too bad seniors, no break for you.===

They could always join the military and sign up for a suicide mission. /s

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:11 am
Property taxes are waaaaaaaaaay too high in Illinois, but, yeah… I agree with your point 100%.

Comment by Bluegrass Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:12 am
The Sun-Times story is embarrassing and the relentless promotion of it on Twitter in an effort to generate “clicks” is sickening. Not only will there be no sponsor for a bill to eliminate/change the benefit for disabled veterans, we don’t yet have a ST editorial on the subject. If it’s such a great idea, shouldn’t that be the next step?

Comment by HCMcB4 Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:16 am
So which is it? Our seniors and retired vets are to be honored and a material way to do that is by this tax break? Or we are to denounce our seniors and disabled vets for getting a tax break? I’m tired of the political spin and the theory that because someone got something I didn’t, then they are evil. I’m sure Tammy Duckworth and her husband earn every penny of their income and I’m also sure her home had to have costly modifications made for her disability. We can never repay our disabled vets for their sacrifice. Do you think that tax break makes up for not being able to run with her children?

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:16 am
Generally speaking, means testing is a waste of everyone’s time and money. While I have my own opinions on property taxes as a whole (i.e. that the entire system is broken and needs a complete overhaul from the ground up, because wow is it stupidly designed nation wide), I do not support this faux outrage just as way to target a politician you don’t like.

Seriously, this is what some people are reduced to? Going after someone who is literally using a program exactly the way it was designed? Someone who clearly and unequivocally fits into the category of the beneficiaries the program was intended for?

Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:17 am
Rich….you are so correct. I share your outrage. this has little to do with our flawed property tax system. Shame on the chicago SunTimes!

Comment by Surgevoter Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:19 am
If the ST and political opponents want to attack a disabled veteran for being a disabled veteran, good luck with that.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:20 am
Which GOP candidate for gov will claim Duckworth’s exemption is an example of everything wrong with this state?

C’mon guys, you know you want to.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:23 am
I don’t fault her at all for taking the tax break. She sacrificed more for this country than almost any of us ever have. What I find most interesting in the story is that she owns a $1.3 million home in VA. Makes you wonder which is really the primary residence. Too many members of Congress get too comfortable in their offices that they put down roots in DC for the long haul.

Comment by SuburbanRepublican Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:23 am
I agree 100% - but isn’t this what we do now? We critique and shame anyone who gets an earned benefit? I do enjoy it when the wokesters and the “fairness” police eat their own.

Comment by DuPage Moderate Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:24 am
Can’t wait for the walk back on this one.

They’ll make Curly Howard sound like George Will.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:26 am
Republicans have in general always been pro-war, but anti-veteran.

Comment by Jason Bourne Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:28 am
So if I am an average taxpayer I pay about $5.00 a month to help out my neighbors? Among them folks who put it all on the line and paid a steep price. This is what the ST wants to talk about? Wow.

Comment by What's in a name? Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:31 am
Incandenza — I’m currently struggling with “means testing” in the broader context of the Dem reconciliation bill. My gut is that it is a good thing but I don’t dismiss your position - “Means testing creates a costly bureaucracy just to make sure the “undeserving” aren’t getting a single dime…”

The example I like is free community college. A family making $500K/yr does not need CC tuition to be subsidized by all other taxpayers (including those making under $500K). But (i) how many kids of $500K families go to CC and (ii) how many kids of low-income families will be discouraged from going to CC because of bureaucratic hassle.

My very unsure conclusion is that there is a way to minimize the bureaucratic hassle to avoid subsidizing those who truly don’t need it. But I’m open to data-driven arguments (which I don’t have)

Comment by WestBurbs Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:36 am
== too bad seniors, no break for you. ==

They actually get two property tax breaks: the senior exemption and the senior freeze. (The latter is means tested.) When you add the fact Illinois doesn’t tax retirement income, seniors do pretty well when in comes to taxation in our state.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:38 am
@Jason Bourne - you could replace Republicans with Democrats and your post would still be true. Both parties love war, otherwise we would not have fought so many of them over the years.

Comment by Moved East Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:38 am
Sen. Duckworth lost both legs, and partial use of her right arm, when the helicopter she was flying over Iraq was hit by rocket-propelled grenades. This was 2004. While I didn’t agree w the U.S. invasion of Iraq - I do not begrudge Sen. Duckworth - or other veterans - a RE tax break. She - and they - will be paying for the rest of their lives.

Comment by Ashland Adam Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:41 am
This issue of veterans benefits comes up every once in awhile. I have debated with people who said John McCain shouldn’t have collected his disability offset for taxes in his retirement pay because he was wealthy. Heard the same about Bob Dole.

Sen. Duckworth is also wealthy and in receipt of multiple benefits for her injuries and her Service. She earned those benefits, those benefits were voted on by both Parties and were approved. She has no reason to apologize for keeping the benefits she earned. No one should.

Disclaimer, I am rated at 30% disabled physical issues during my service in peacetime and combat and I receive some benefits from the State and Federal Governments that I am thankful for. I am not wealthy by any measure and do not begrudge others who earned their benefits and are wealthy.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:46 am
===who’s gonna sponsor the bill to yank away this benefit from disabled American military veterans?===

Ball Game.

It’s confusing until you realize it’s about the “Democrat” Duckworth and others, and ignoring how Tammy Duckworth and the many other disabled veterans now live their lives after serving our country and the sacrifices they live with every day.

That bill to remove that provision has “Century Club” written all over it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 10:48 am
If I had the choice of paying property taxes or being 70% disabled, I’d pick the former. I’d guess Sen. Duckworth would, too. But she didn’t have a choice.

The Sun-Times needs to find something else to grouse about.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:11 am
Right now people are fussing about this because of a few high profile names. They gave for our country and if this is the least we can do, then do it. Also from a perspective of numbers this is a small group. We already only have 1% of the population serving in the military and only 9.4% who served have a rating of 70% or higher. Changing this will have minimal impact on us and a big impact on the vets who served.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:12 am
I was astonished by that story and am astonished that they thought this was a gotcha. Talk about a self-own. We owe an enormous debt to disabled vets. This is the least we can do. Does anyone in the Sun-Times really believe these vets think the tax break was worth their disability? They really think Sen. Duckworth wouldn’t rather have her body whole instead? disability? Shame on the Sun-Times.

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:14 am
I’m speculating the ST got pitched something different here and had to pivot when the story didn’t shake out.

Comment by Guaranteed Rater Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:16 am
I read that article and just wanted to scream. Beating up on disabled veterans? I was shocked that it even ran. That was a low point for the Sun-Times that I hope they move away from.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:23 am
Yeah, no. You sign up to get shot at, and I’m never going to complain about whatever breaks the government gives you when you get out. Veterans earned every penny. Full stop.

Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:27 am
=That they’re paying nothing means the rest of the county’s 1.8 million property taxpayers — the remaining homeowners and business owners — have to pick up the slack, a total of just under $102.8 million.=

Obviously, the figures the Sun-Times is use are flawed in how they are being used. But even assuming they were accurate and applicable (which they are not), the Sun-Times is asserting that 1.8 M taxpayers are being forced to pay an extra $50 a year (as noted by Whats in a name noted, so that the disabled (who earn much less as a class) are can remain in their homes.

Again, the number provided by the Sun-Times are misleading, and inaccurate. But even so, what’s wrong with those who can, helping those in need? Has the Sun-Times no moral consciousness? No self-consciousness? Gee whiz.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:31 am
This one sent me over the edge. We aren’t giving them Blenheim Palace, for heaven’s sakes. (Here’s some background, if you’re interested. https://thecountryseat.org.uk/2012/03/23/on-behalf-of-a-grateful-nation-country-houses-given-to-military-leaders/)

I’m guessing the VAST majority of disabled veterans who receive this exemption are not wealthy. And I’m guessing the exemption covers only a portion of the expense required to make a home disabled-accessible.

And kindly do not get me started on the expense and physical pain and heartache it required for Tammy Duckworth to give birth to her children.

This story was shameful.

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:36 am
I hope no one tells the Sun-Times that churches and nonprofits also don’t pay property taxes. If they merge with WBEZ as a nonprofit, the S-T won’t pay property taxes either. I’m pretty sure Michael Sacks knows this, why doesn’t the ed board?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:42 am
The disabled veterans exclusion is limited to $750,000 of market value. Where that really pays off is in jurisdictions with a high rate, but low prices. The article mentions a Flossmoor and a County Club Hills resident who save up to $32,000 on their annual property taxes. At least Tammy has to declare her residence in Illinois, where her more modest house is.

Comment by Sharia Kapo Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:45 am
So, if I understand this correctly, the chicken hawks want to take away veteran’s benefits after sending them off to fight? Sounds about right.

Maybe they can ask Ken Griffin how he feels about that given his service to our country.

Err, wait…nevermind.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:27 pm
=== What I find most interesting in the story is that she owns a $1.3 million home in VA. Makes you wonder which is really the primary residence. ===

$1.3M is modest in the DC area, particularly for an individual whose home requires ADA modifications, has two small kids, and is guaranteed to spend significant time there for six years.

Zillow estimates the median home price in DC-Metro to be $516,846, compared to $292,029 in Cook County.

Comment by PrairieStateLover Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:33 pm
Not a TD fan but going to have to agree, become disabled serving your country, forgoing taxes is a mighty small price.

Comment by Yeah Right Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 1:20 pm
Suburban Republican - I fully understand having the number $1.3 million look like a potentially extravagant home. In DC/Northern Virginia, that is not the case at all. It is one of the highest cost areas for homes in the nation. Further, members of Congress necessarily spend the vast majority of their time in DC. Having a 2nd home in that area is reasonable, especially when one has children. Otherwise you’d rarely see your own kids. That’s not a choice someone should have to make simply because they enter public service. The greater point of pre-emption by DC vs where one is elected from is very valid, but the way it works now, this accommodation is required for many.

Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 2:10 pm
She makes too much money to get that tax break. Didn’t she make close to $500,000 last year between her taxpayer-funded salary and her book deal? And the book would have interested few people if she weren’t a public servant. It’s ridiculous.

Comment by Lakeview Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 3:29 pm
If you’re arguing about Duckworth’s value, her “homes”, what is deserved…

Lemme know when you lost both legs in war, use of an arm, and tell me how you’re getting around these days.

It’s disheartening to read such callous takes to a combat disabled veteran, “because”…

Heartless, to all those whom this exemption covers, frankly.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 3:33 pm
The biggest complainers about giving disabled vet a property tax break are complaining about wearing a piece of cloth over their face to prevent the spread of a deadly pandemic. Not to mention getting a little needle stick. The disabled vets are heroes. The anti-mask/anti-vaxxers are what we can’t say in polite company.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Guaranteed Rater nails it.

This was an attempt by the Sun-Times to go directly after Duckworth for not paying property taxes in the lead up to an election, and when that didn’t pan out because what she did is perfectly legal, they decided to side-swipe her because they couldnt T-bone her.

The problem is, those same reporters are now being roasted in their own LTE’s:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/2021/10/4/22708939/sen-tammy-duckworth-disabled-veterans-property-tax-exemptions-letters

And their own editorial board is refusing to side with their reporting.

Who is the editor over The Watchdogs, Fornek?

The story was so embarrassing that the Civic Federation and BGA chose not to retweet it, even though Civic Fed was quoted in the story.

Comment by Sunny Bono Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 3:50 pm
=== Isn’t the senior citizen freeze means tested? ===

No. I don’t think any property tax exemption is income tested.

The disabled vet benefit is Needs Tested.

Vets with 30-49% disability and 50-69% disability qualify for smaller benefits.

Something that more competent coverage would have mentioned.

Also, while most vets who are 70% or more disabled pay $0 property taxes, that benefit is actually capped.

The law reduces your EAV by $250K. EAV = 1/4 market value.

So if you own a $1M home, you pay zero, but if your home is more expensive, you will still pay some property taxes.

The reporters never explained that, probably because none of them are really experts in property taxes or public finance, also because explaining it would have deadened the attack on Duckworth, which was the whole point of a Sunday front page story.

When you realize how the program works, and that the supposedly “wealthy” US Senator lives in a pretty modest $275K house, the story makes even less sense to anyone with journalistic integrity.

Comment by Huffman Estates Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 4:02 pm
==== Isn’t the senior citizen freeze means tested? ===

No. I don’t think any property tax exemption is income tested.=

According to the Cook County Treasurer’s website, to receive the senior citizen freeze, you must have an annual household income of $65,000 or less.

That’s an income test.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 5:14 pm