By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force has missed its deadline to file recommendations and minority Republicans say they can’t sign off on a draft report.
The task force was supposed to issue a report on how to lower the state’s second-highest in the nation property taxes by the end of 2019, but didn’t. A draft is circulating online.
A letter obtained by The Center Square two other Republicans sent Democratic leaders said Republican ideas were mostly excluded and they won’t support the draft until it includes meaningful reforms.
“Aside from the failure to include House Republican substantive reform ideas, the DRAFT Report includes recommendations from subcommittees that never debated and approved policy recommendations for consideration by the full Task Force,” the letter from state Reps. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, and Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, said.
“We believe that we cannot authorize our caucus to approve a DRAFT Report that (1) fails to address core issues that impact the failed property tax system in Illinois, and (2) has been improperly presented by a few members of the Task Force without proper process and public consideration,” the letter states. “Meaningful, substantive property tax relief for beleaguered Illinois homeowners is critical, and the issue deserves serious and meaningful deliberation and reform ideas.”
Democratic leaders didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.
Task force member state Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield, said the draft seems to mostly be old ideas.
“I don’t think there’s anything in here,” Murphy said. “I just think there’s some suggestions. There’s nothing in here that says ‘tomorrow we’re going to file legislation saying this.’ There was one suggestion I thought was unique that a school district apply for more money with no parameters, what does that mean, who wouldn’t then?”
Another proposal Murphy said was for the state to take over all the funding for school districts.
“I’d like to see what that looked like, that’s a little scary,” Murphy said.
The Republican letter said the task force “lacks transparency and infringes on the rights of the Task Force members to provide input on a document to which you proposed to attach their name.”
The real fix Murphy said is for schools to get more state funding, not through tax increases but through cuts to inefficient programs.
“And I think you can look at any study, Illinois doesn’t need more revenue. We need to spend it wisely.”
While the report may have some ideas worth considering, Murphy said he still thinks property taxes must be determined by voters locally.
“If you don’t like the way the district’s been running and spending your money, let’s make a change there,” Murphy said. “That’s all it needs. It’s local control. And that’s why I don’t the state getting involved. We’re getting involved and trying to tell local entities in how to spend their money.”
Murphy said the state needs to get rid of unfunded mandates on school districts and local governments. And while he said the draft report doesn’t call for a progressive income tax, he still feels the task force will be used to promote the idea that could raise taxes by $3 billion.
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