Illinois Lawmakers Split Over Property Taxes
The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. (Nikopoley/Wikimedia)
Politicians say one of the most common complaints they hear about is high property taxes. The Illinois House has advanced a measure that'd put a hold on them. But it's unlikely the measure will ever become law.
Freezing property taxes was one of the promises Gov. Bruce Rauner made on the campaign trail.
But it wasn't his plan that got called for a vote -- leading Rauner's fellow Republicans to yet again accuse Democrats of pulling a political stunt, intended to embarrass the governor.
The measure wouldn't freeze individual homeowners' bills; rather it'd keep municipal governments from bringing in additional revenue without voters' approval.
But the governor's budget slashes in half the money cities get from the state; leaving some Democrats, including Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook, to vote no. She says it’ll hamstring local officials.
"And despite all the rhetoric on this floor about local control, local control, local control this is what we're debating today," she said. "Those individuals are elected to do their job, we need to give them the tools to do their job the best way that they can."
The plan inched forward in the House, but not with the votes it needs to proceed further.