Prairie State Wire

Chris Robling said it was no surprise that property tax reform was not addressed during the 2020 Illinois Legislature’s session. 

That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t continue to apply pressure to state officials to work on it, said Robling, a Chicago political strategist who is a frequent analyst on TV and radio.

The legislature did not focus on tax reform despite forming a special study group to review in 2019. But once the COVID-19 pandemic struck, closing businesses, either by choice or mandate, property tax relief was sidelined.

Robling told Prairie State Wire there is another element: It is a partisan issue.

“Property tax reform is vitally necessary to revive Illinois,” he said. “But to the Democrats it’s poison.”

Studies show Illinois has the second-highest property tax rate in the nation, trailing only New Jersey. Polls show that small business owners and homeowners want the matter addressed.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called it a “local issue,” but said he was willing to listen to suggestions. During a pandemic update, Pritzker said elected leaders “certainly need to consider everything we can to relieve the tax burden on the people in the state.”

Once the four-day special session convened May 20, however, property tax reform was not discussed. The legislature did grant a 120-day extension for property tax bills, with no interest or penalties. That mirrored a move by some Illinois counties.

It also extended, without application, an extension to elderly and disabled residents.

Although property tax reform and reductions are a major concern for many state residents, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot floated a plan last fall to raise property taxes to reduce the $838 million budget deficit she was handed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel hiked property taxes in 2016 to meet pension obligations and assure business interests the city was stable financially.

Robling said that is more of the same.

“No one expected progress under Gov. Pritzker and Speaker [Mike] Madigan,” he said. “Sadly, those expectations were fulfilled by last week’s budget.”

The Legislature approved a budget for fiscal year 2021 that calls for $40 billion in spending.

“It’s some $12 billion out of balance, reaches new heights of spending, and gives union members and politicians raises, just as COVID unemployment nears 30 percent,” Robling said.

He said some people are fed up and will vote with their feet.

The 2018 Illinois Issues Survey reported that 53 percent of people interviewed considered leaving Illinois and, of those people, 39 percent said comparatively lower taxes elsewhere were the “primary reason.”

The survey was done by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield and NPR Illinois.

“Regular Illinoisans with the means and opportunity to do so will leave in greater numbers,” Robling said. “Democrats are hollowing out our state in a Ponzi scheme with devastating consequences.”