Kifowit Sponsors Property Tax Rebate Program to Help Protect Middle-Class Families

AURORA, Ill. – Continuing her fight to provide property tax relief to middle-class families in local communities, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, recently backed an initiative to create the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund.

“One of the biggest financial burdens facing the residents in my district are the increasingly high property taxes,” said Kifowit. “We need to do everything we can to help ease the tax burden felt by many middle-class families in the region.”

This past spring, Kifowit sponsored Senate Bill 39 which would establish a tax relief program to allocate property tax rebates to homeowners claiming a general homestead exemption through the newly created Property Tax Relief Fund.

Starting for Fiscal year 2021, every county assessor would have to certify the number of homestead exemptions granted in their county to the Illinois Comptroller’s Office. The Comptroller’s office would then calculate the rebate amount by dividing the amount appropriated from the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund by the number of general homestead exemptions within the state. Every taxpayer would receive the same rebate amount, and the amount of money distributed to each county would be based on the number homestead exemptions awarded by the county. The rebate amount would be stated as an additional line on each property tax bill.

“This spring I worked tirelessly to fight against the rising property taxes seen all over our state,” said Kifowit. “Every little bit helps and we must continue to find new ways to lower property taxes on middle-class families while protecting critical services for our most vulnerable residents.”

Senate Bill 39 passed both houses and has been sent to the Governor for consideration.