During the fall veto session in Springfield, 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.
Michael Kenyon, a farmer and member of the Kane County Board, discussed the matter of the tax freeze in an interview with the Kane County Reporter.
“Property tax is often the only source of revenue and should be used with thoughtful reasoning to furnish services.” Kenyon said. “I find it comical that the most mismanaged taxing body wants to restrict the well managed.”
Kenyon believes the issues can be resolved with proper management and by moving away from property tax, and by using alternative methods.
“This whole issue could be repaired by moving away from property tax, this can be done by the state.” Kenyon said. “We also do not tax retirement income yet each year all state pensions rise by 3 percent. The tax should allow an exemption of the first $40,000. Your house expenses are not frozen and what if income were frozen?"
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