By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner was joined by homeowners in south suburban Chicago Thursday as he took steps to end a property tax system he called immoral, unethical and something that should be illegal.
At the news conference, Rauner announced he signed an executive barring lawmakers from arguing cases in front of the Illinois State Tax Appeals Board. Flossmoor resident Christine Wilson said her home was improperly appraised for nearly $300,000 by Cook County and her property taxes are $12,000 a year “with no knowledge of where this money is going to.”
“Taxes are going up,” Wilson said, “We’re becoming a ghost town. Businesses are closing. Residents are leaving.”
Glenwood Village resident Adam Winston said he pays $8,000 in property taxes on a $120,000 home. Winston said addressing high property taxes is crucial.
“Hopefully we can get more people behind it because it’s just too important,” Winston said. “What we’re paying in taxes, we’re not getting in service.”
He said his wife wants to move but they can’t even sell the house.
In order to fight high property taxes under the current system, Rauner said homeowners have to hire politically connected law firms, like the one where longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan works.
“No one who sets tax policy, no one who has an influence to increase taxes on one hand should be in a position where they financially benefit from fighting about property taxes and try to get them reduced on the other hand,” Rauner said.
Madigan has long denied conflicts of interest. Rauner said the system to dispute high property taxes is rigged. In addition to signing the executive order barring lawmakers from arguing cases in front of the Illinois State Tax Appeals Board, he proposes a law to ban lawmakers from making money from property tax appeals.
“We also don’t let legislators argue cases in the Court of Claims. We should do the same thing for property tax appeals,” Rauner said. “It’s a conflict of interest. It’s unethical. It’s immoral. We should also make it illegal.”
Rauner also reiterated his desire for a law allowing local referenda to freeze and/or lower property taxes. He’s also called for Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios to resign.
