South Central Reporter

Christopher Hicks said property tax reform remains an issue for most Illinois residents. Convincing lawmakers to address it, however, has proven to be difficult.

“Property tax relief should be one of the utmost priorities lawmakers address during this pandemic,” Hicks told South Central Reporter. “Homeowners should not have to worry about losing their homes due to a lackluster effort by the General Assembly. Let’s all hold Gov. J.B. Pritzker accountable for promising to ‘consider everything we can to relieve the tax burden on the people in the state’ and taxpayers must voice their concerns to their elected officials to get action taken!”

The Legislature adjourned early Sunday after passing a $40 billion budget for fiscal year 2021, which begins on July 1, and clearing the way for a casino in Chicago by easing the tax burden on its still-to-be-determined owner.

Property tax reform, the focus of a special report released earlier this year and expected to be a primary issue during the session, was shunted aside.

Lawmakers did approve a bill delaying interest penalties on late property tax payments, giving homeowners an additional 120 days to make their payments. They also ordered property tax sales in counties with less than 3 million people delayed, extended homestead exemptions for the elderly, disabled people and disabled veterans.

But sweeping property tax reform, long a concern for homeowners and Republicans who are in minority positions in both chambers, was not on the table during a four-day special session that wrapped up legislative business following an adjournment of more than two months.

Hicks, a Republican, has twice sought a seat in the Legislature, running in the GOP primary for House District 95 in 2016 and unsuccessfully seeking the party’s nomination for the District 48 state Senate seat in 2018. He said property tax reform will remain a pressing issue.

“The Democrat-controlled Legislature must work with Republicans to help keep people in their homes,” Hicks said. “Without this property tax relief, many Illinois property owners will face uncertainty. I fully support property tax payments being suspended until the economy stabilizes including waiving any and all penalties.”

He said it’s a very real problem across the state.

“Illinois homeowners face some of the highest property tax burdens in the country and this pandemic will only add to it,” Hicks said. “Homeowners need any and all property tax relief they can get from the General Assembly. Gov. Pritzker also needs to lead the way for taxpayers and drop the progressive income tax question from the November ballot.

“Local governments have publicly expressed concerns about decreased revenues and job loss in their communities,” he said. “Republicans and Democrats know everyone will feel the negative impacts, especially homeowners, if no action is taken on property tax relief.”