State Rep. Walker Appointed to Property Tax Relief Task Force

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, has been appointed to the newly-created Property Tax Relief Task Force focused on determining viable short and long-term solutions to Illinois’ burdensome property tax rates.

“High property taxes are the number one issue I hear from my constituents,” Walker said. “Now that the Task Force has been organized, I’m eager to get to work determining ways to give meaningful relief to taxpayers in my district and around the state.”

Established through Senate Bill 1932, the Property Tax Relief Task Force is charged with examining the root causes of high property taxes in communities across the state, assessing other states’ legislative solutions to reduce property tax burdens and proposing policy changes that will bring real relief to Illinois homeowners. The bipartisan task force will include lawmakers and will work in conjunction with the Department of Revenue, State Board of Education and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. The task force is expected to submit a report with recommendations by the end of the year.

“The reality is, property taxes are set by local taxing bodies and not the state,” Walker said. “But it seems clear that local municipalities, school and park districts will just keep taking the maximum levy every year. That has to change. Lawmakers in Springfield hear our constituents loud and clear, and I intend to use this task force as the first step in a wider plan to demand tax relief for local residents.”