Halpin Testifies in Support of Bill to Freeze Property Tax Rates for Disabled, River Edge Tax Credit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, spoke Thursday in the House Revenue and Finance Committee about a measure he introduced to freeze property tax rates for individuals who are currently disabled.

“Going door-to-door, I have met individuals who are disabled and unable to work, but still have to face the financial and personal stress of rising property taxes,” Halpin said. “This proposal would bring some relief by freezing the assessed value of their home, allowing their rates to effectively be frozen.”

Based off of the already existing Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, Halpin’s House Bill 3702 would create a comparable exemption for disabled individuals. The exemption would be available to qualifying individuals of any age who have a household income under $55,000.

Halpin also spoke in favor of his House Bill 3706, which would expand the Historic River Edge Tax Credit to the Quad Cities. The Historic River Edge Tax Credit program aims to revitalize communities by attracting private investment for older structures in need of renovation and redevelopment.

“This is a program that has worked in other communities in Illinois, and would allow us to be competitive at attracting investment on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities,” Halpin said. “We need to be looking at ways to create and keep jobs, and this is a way we can do so.”

For more information, please contact Halpin’s constituent service office at 309-448-3612 or RepHalpin@gmail.com.