Democrat Stephen Reid, a DeKalb County Board member opposes a two-year property tax freeze in Illinois even though the state has some of the highest tax rates in the U.S.
“Government provides many needed public services including education, infrastructure, health, public safety and many I can't think of at this moment,” Reid told the DeKalb Times. “It is always the issue as to who will pay for the needed services. Everyone wants something for free. A property tax freeze or any other kind of tax cut is always popular to the public on the surface.”
“This is not unique to Illinois by any means,” Reid said. “Unfortunately, I have found that most voters have no idea of which governmental bodies provide what services. Historically, Illinois was a wealthy manufacturing and commerce center. Over time, Illinois developed many services that are frankly better than in many low tax Southern states.”
The Democrat explained that Florida may have lower property taxes than most states but that the Sunshine State lacks adequate senior services and transportation for the elderly; a problem that Illinois does not have he said.
“This is one example that shocked me because it is sorely needed there,” Reid said. “People retire to low tax states to find out there are few services for the elderly in their new state. A tax freeze would eventually call for reduced services by government. It is a question of what services do we eliminate?”
During the fall veto session, state lawmakers discussed Senate Bill 851, which would establish a two-year property tax freeze for Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will counties. The measure would allow those counties to increase property taxes only with voter approval.
All other counties would be subject to referendums asking whether a property tax freeze should be imposed for 2018 and 2019 or that all governments within a county jurisdiction be subject to a property tax freeze over that period and to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for levy year 2020 and the foreseeable future.
Bryan Smith, the executive director of the Township Officials of Illinois, had sent a legislative alert to township officials about SB851, asking them to urge their state lawmakers to oppose the measure.
The legislation was not brought up for a vote in the Senate before the veto session ended.
According to the Daily Herald, some lawmakers are pushing for a property tax freeze because high taxes are one of the biggest reasons people are leaving Illinois to live in neighboring states, and things can get worse following a recent massive income tax hike.
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