House GOP says Dems ignoring ‘realistic’ property tax relief plans

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – As the clock continues to tick toward the end of the legislative session in Springfield, Republican lawmakers are calling on Democrats to include them in property tax relief talks.

Major recent proposals from Democrats – such as the ‘Megaprojects Bill’ – have sought to address property tax issues that have drawn criticism from Republicans.

State Reps. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hanover Park, Nicole La Ha, R-Lemont, Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, spoke about their proposals to bring property tax relief to Illinoisans on Tuesday.

The lawmakers said their proposals are realistic and worthy of bipartisan consideration.

“I’ve been here for eight years and so has the governor. And finally, he’s ready to acknowledge there’s a property tax problem here in Illinois,” Ugaste said. “We brought this out there. We wouldn’t be here without us. So, bring us to the table. We need to be present. We need to be talking with you.”

Ugaste said with House and Senate Democrat leadership also on board to bring relief, it’s time for Democrats to fairly consider their colleagues across the aisle.

Rep. Keicher highlighted key proposals the Republican Caucus put forward in the House, including an initiative to restart funding for property tax relief grants to school districts through the Illinois State Board of Education.

The board has also recently requested their similar grant program be funded, but the General Assembly has failed to do so in recent years. Pritzker’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year maintains that status quo.

La Ha noted trends have pointed to residents facing difficulties in affording their local property taxes.

“These families have done everything right and they’re still being squeezed,” La Ha said. “In some of the hardest hit areas, about 10% of homeowners were only able to make partial payments on their property tax bills. That trend points to real financial strain.”

Similarly, Keicher noted other proposals they would like to see considered include efforts to bring more transparency to the taxation process and give regular oversight to voters. He said a new approach is needed overall, but none of their proposals are radical.

“We are in a hole so deep we need to stop digging. The only way out of the tax mess that we find ourselves in today is to grow our economy to diversify our tax base,” Keicher said.

Sanalitro fielded questions on the ongoing negotiations and changes to the Megaprojects Bill, as she was one of the 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of the bill.

“I voted for that bill because Illinois is starved for economic economic development, growth, jobs, and I feel like this bill brings all of that. I’m going to be watching the Senate closely with the amendment, and we’ll make sure that the property taxpayers are protected in that bill,” Sanalitro said.