Halpin Calls for Expansion of Property Tax Relief Program for Quad-Cities Homeowners

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Following Gov. Pritzker’s announcement of winners of the Illinois State Board of Education’s Property Tax Relief Grant, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is calling for an expansion of the program to help relieve the high property tax burden felt by homeowners in the Quad Cities.

“Families in our community, like families across the state, are facing ever-rising property taxes, and many are at risk of being priced out of their home,” said Halpin. “I am proud to have supported historic education funding reform to decrease school districts’ dependency on property tax revenue, but there is more work to be done. We need to look at other ways to provide school districts with additional property tax relief funding, including expanding eligibility for the Property Tax Relief Grant that 39 school districts were awarded this year.”

Rock Island-Milan School District 41, Moline Unit School District 40 and United Township High School District 30 were among 233 applicants for the Property Tax Relief Grant that was created as part of Illinois’ fair school funding formula, which Halpin supported in 2017. This year marks the second year in which funds were awarded, with more than $53 million being dispersed among 39 school districts. Halpin is calling for an expansion of the program to help local school districts cut property taxes by replacing that revenue with state funds.

“The Property Tax Relief Grant is a critical resource to ease the crushing tax burden on homeowners while ensuring students get the best quality education, and I am disappointed money for this program ran out before our local schools could benefit,” said Halpin. “Expanding this program is the right thing to do to bring more fairness and equity to our property tax system.”