Manley Backed Legislation Provides Significant Property Tax Relief to Homeowners

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to provide property tax relief to homeowners, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, sponsored legislation to increase homeowner exemptions for families across the state.

“When I’m talking to people in my district, one of the concerns I hear most often is that our property taxes are too high,” Manley said. “It is hard for families and seniors to balance their household budgets when the amount they pay in property taxes jumps every year and their income doesn’t. This legislation provides significant property tax relief to all homeowners, including seniors, people with disabilities and veterans.”

Currently, owners who live in their home receive a General Homestead Exemption of $6,000. Under House Bill 156, which Manley is sponsoring, this exemption is increased to $8,000. The exemption available to seniors also increases from $5,000 to $6,000 under this legislation. The measure creates the Disabled Persons Freeze, which will be similar to the Senior Property Tax Freeze, but will only be available to individuals receiving Supplemental aSecurity Income from the federal government. To help veterans and their families, the bill allows veterans with a 20 to 30 percent disability and veterans over the age of 75 to qualify for a $2,500 exemption.

Finally, Manley’s legislation expands the Long-Time Owner Occupant Exemption to the entire state. This will allow homeowners who have lived in their home for more than 8 years and earn less than $100,000 an additional exemption, to receive an exemption based on the length of time the homeowner has lived in their house. The legislation will allow homeowners who lives in their house for 21 years or more to receive an additional exemption of up to 60 percent of the General Homestead Exemption.

“One of the items on Gov. Rauner’s reform agenda that I agree with is reducing the burden that property taxes place on our families,” Manley said. “The legislation that was passed today will provide homeowners with that relief and I will continue to fight for working families and seniors and hope that the governor will join me.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent service office at 815-725-2741 or RepManley@gmail.com.