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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.
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