Kane County Reporter

Illinois House Republican lawmakers have introduced a legislative package aimed at providing property tax relief to residents across the state. The initiative was announced by Assistant Minority Leader Dan Ugaste from Geneva, alongside State Representatives Joe Sosnowski of Rockford and Tom Weber of Fox Lake. They criticized the Democratic majority for their inaction on this issue.

Representative Dan Ugaste emphasized the urgency of addressing high property taxes, stating, "High property taxes are crushing Illinois families." He highlighted that Illinois pays the second-highest property taxes in the nation and urged consideration of the proposed solutions by House Republicans.

Governor JB Pritzker's recent budget proposal, which increases spending by $2 billion without significant reforms for tax relief, was also critiqued. Representative Weber described it as evidence of the Democratic majority's disconnect with ordinary Illinoisans. He said, "Years of reckless spending and unbalanced budgets have led the majority party to endlessly drive up property taxes with no end in sight."

The proposed measures include improving existing exemptions, capping annual tax increases, and returning surplus revenue to taxpayers. Representative Joe Sosnowski focused on assisting homeowners and seniors on fixed incomes: "Working families and homeowners need property tax relief," he stated.

Sosnowski also pointed out that if Illinois had grown at a similar rate to neighboring states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri over the past decade, it would have over a million more residents today. This growth could bolster local tax bases supporting essential services.

The legislative package will continue its journey through the Illinois House. Updates on its progress can be tracked via ilga.gov.