Sawyerville activist Christopher Hicks argues that legislation now being proposed in Springfield to raise property taxes in order to fund affordable housing could have a drastic effect throughout Illinois.
“This will have a very negative impact on the Illinois housing market,” Hicks told the South Central Reporter. “Many homeowners will give moving out of state a very serious look. Most homes will likely fall into foreclosure and remain on the market for a very substantial time and many homes carrying a high property tax value will be difficult to sell including some homes never selling. The housing market in Illinois is destined to crash and burn if property tax reform does not become a priority for Illinois lawmakers.”
Now pending in the General Assembly, Senate Bill 2259 and House Bill 1168 are designed to limit increases in assessments of new or rehabilitated apartment complexes provided the owner commits a certain number of units to a rent cap for lower-income families.
Sawyerville Republican activist Christopher Hicks
| Photo courtesy of Christopher Hicks
“Using properly taxes to find affordable housing will be a financial disaster to the hardest working,” Hicks said, noting that the overall levy on the properties in question will remain the same. “Homeowners should not have to subsidize a free handout for others. The taxpayers once again will get the short end of the stick.”
Hicks said he sees just one way for already strapped taxpayers to slow down the onslaught.
“Time to stand up and fight back,” he said. “The sponsors of this bill want you, the homeowners, to pay even higher property taxes to provide free housing to others in Illinois. If you just sit around and do nothing, you should only have yourself to blame. How much higher will your property taxes go until you are taxed out of your home while someone else gets a free handout?”
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