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“Well, I want to remind you that property taxes are not
determined by the state of Illinois, but rather by local
governments, indeed, local units of government, including school
boards, park boards, library boards, municipalities, etc,”
Pritzker said.
The governor then pointed to the minority party in Illinois.
“So I think people sometimes get confused. I know the Republican
Party in Illinois is quite confused and thinks that this is a
state issue when it is actually a local issue,” Pritzker said.
Americans for Prosperity Illinois Deputy State Director Brian
Costin said the governor’s statement is false.
“It is absolutely a state issue. If Gov. Pritzker doesn't
understand that, he doesn't understand what the state
constitution is about and that local governments are created by
the state government,” Costin told The Center Square.
A report by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said loopholes in
state law allowed local officials to raise taxes at twice the
rate of inflation and also higher than wage growth from 1994 to
2025.
Pritzker said school boards ratcheted up property taxes even
though the state increased public education funding.
Costin said local officials are pointing fingers at state
government and state government is pointing right back.
“As a result, we have total incompetence in the state of
Illinois when it comes to the issue of property taxes. It's no
surprise that we have the number one property taxes in the
nation,” Costin said.
Costin said there are catastrophic situations in Illinois,
including property taxes above 4.5% for residents in the Chicago
suburb of Harvey.
“People leave. Homes get foreclosed upon, they get abandoned.
Businesses leave, they go to other states. If 4.5% property tax
rates are okay for Gov. Pritzker, he is cosigning the state of
Illinois to economic ruin,” Costin said.
Costin said property taxes in Indiana are half what they are in
Illinois after voters in the Hoosier State passed a tax cap
amendment.
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