Kane County Reporter

Keith Wheeler, the Republican Illinois State Representative discusses concern for the SAFE-T Act. In January, Illinois Republicans filed a House resolution asking to repeal the SAFE-T Act, calling it damaging and dangerous because it may remove funding mandates on local governments.

According to Capitol News, Illinois Democrats disagree, saying Republicans are simply fearmongering because the bulk of the bill has not even gone into effect yet.

Wheeler was first elected to the Illinois House in 2014. A Republican, his legislative experience includes serving on the Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT and Executive. Wheeler is a state representative who resides in Oswego, according to the Illinois House.

Wheeler explains that unfunded mandates have already forced the local Kane County government to consider raising property taxes for the first time in a decade to fill a $3 million hole just from the new SAFE-T Act mandates. 

“Aside from the unfunded mandates on law enforcement, the eliminated funding from cash bail has been used to support clerks and other aspects of the judicial system and the SAFE-T Act eliminates that Revenue stream at the county level without replacing it from the state level,” Wheeler said.

"Illinois already has the second highest property taxes in the nation and now with the highest inflation in 40 years, this is not the time to add to our highest in the nation's overall tax burden," he said.

“I am strongly opposed to any property tax increases of any kind. Especially when they step from this kind of legislation. It was opposed by nearly every law enforcement organization in the state,” Wheeler said. “I opposed this legislation in the General Assembly when the supermajority rammed it through on the last day of the veto session. I called for its repeal six months ago. I will continue to fight it and any other property tax increases that will make it harder for seniors, young families and small businesses to make ends meet in the 83rd district.”