Costa Howard Calls on Pritzker to Sign Legislation to Close DuPage Airport Property Tax Loophole

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As a part of her continuing efforts to rein in skyrocketing property taxes throughout DuPage County, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, passed legislation to close a property tax loophole in state statute that has allowed DuPage Airport Authority tenants to skip out on nearly $770,000 in overdue property tax payments.

“Property taxes on DuPage County homeowners have continued to soar, while tenants of the DuPage County Airport Authority have avoided paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills,” said Costa Howard.  “Homeowners can’t just refuse to pay their property tax bills with no repercussions. It is wrong and unfair that the tenants of the airport authority have been exploiting this loophole, racking up enormous bills, and passing the cost onto property owners.”

Under their leases with the DuPage County Airport Authority, business tenants agree to pay their property taxes. If those tenants decide not to pay, however, they face no legal penalties because the airport property can’t be seized for noncompliance and sold in a tax sale.

Costa Howard’s Senate Bill 1041 would hold scofflaw businesses that operate on public airport authority property accountable by imposing a fine equal to the amount of taxes owed. Costa Howard’s measure, backed by the Illinois Municipal League and DuPage County elected officials, passed the Illinois House and Senate with strong bipartisan support and has been sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk for consideration.

“Closing this loophole in state statute is just common sense, so I urge the governor to sign this legislation into law,” continued Costa Howard. “We need to make every effort to ease the property tax burden on DuPage County homeowners.”