State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) spoke out against the Kane County Board's approval of a $50 million referendum and its decision to support legislation that would give the transportation department authority to use quick-take powers to speed along the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor project.
Residents will have the opportunity to vote for a $50 million referendum to purchase open space by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. District officials estimated taxes on a $250,000 home would rise by $22 per year, or $1.83 per month as a result of the referendum.
"People understand that parks, forest preserves, clean water and clean air are very, very important to the quality of life in Kane County," Brook McDonald, Conservation Foundation president and CEO, told The Courier-News.
Skillicorn's opinion differed.
"Kane property taxes are the second highest in the state of Illinois and, according the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, are four to five times higher than the national average," Skillicorn said. "All Kane County property taxes should be frozen until property values and growth catches up with tax levies. It is inappropriate to discuss any tax hikes in today's economic reality. I applaud Kane County Board Members Jarett Sanchez (D-Carpentersville), Doug Scheflow (R-Elgin) and Thomas (T.R.) Smith (R-Maple Park) for standing up to special interests who want higher property taxes for Kane County residents."
Skillicorn also expressed his opposition to the county's resolution to allow the Kane County Department of Transportation to pursue legislation that would allow it to use the quick take method of eminent domain to obtain the last few properties needed to complete the $115 million Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor – a proposed 5.6-mile four-lane road designed to decongest traffic in northern Kane County. The resolution passed 18-5. The quick-take method allows a government to take possession of private property before payment for the property is settled. A bill in the Senate would amend the Eminent Domain Act and open the door for the county to use quick take.
Sanchez also opposed the use of quick take powers.
"This is not something we like to see," he told The Courier News. "We don't like to see the government coming in and taking land."
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