governor candidate thoughts on Illimois Property Taxes
Illinois property taxes are some of the highest in the country. While property taxes are controlled by the various local taxing bodies, the affordability factor makes them a state issue. The following is what we hear from the three Illinois governor candidates.
Gary Pierce has on his web site https://www.standwithgary.com/issues/lift-up-communities made not specific statements on property taxes. He does discuss at the state level the need to invest in communities that have been left behind including job training, local business support, providing access to essential services. The implied statement is the reality of property values that are low compared to the tax rates that are able to be charged.
Darren Bailey on his web site https://baileyforillinois.com/issues/ states “no family should ever pay more in property taxes than their mortgage – but in Illinois, countless families do. That is unacceptable. Families are being taxed out of their homes while politicians in Springfield keep raising spending and passing the bill to taxpayers. Darren Bailey will fight to rein in government waste, demand accountability, and deliver real tax relief. Because home ownership should be a blessing—not a burden.” This is a nice statement, but what are the details?
J. B. Pritzker asserts that property taxes are determined by local governments, such as school boards and municipalities, rather than the state government. His web site https://jbpritzker.com/latest/accomplishment/lowering-costs-for-working-families/ states Saved taxpayers tens of millions by reducing the cost of local police and fire pension plans.
Contrary to Pritzker’s implication that the state government can’t do much in the way of proper taxes other than offer subsidies. But the state needs to look at unfunded mandates that it dictates to the local governments. Each unfunded mandate requires funding by the local entity.
Both candidates imply they are for increased public school spending. But without addressing mandates the state can increase funding all it wants but without the mandate situation addressed property taxes cannot get under control.