SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of her effort to work reach a bi-partisan compromise on the budget, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, voted to provide much needed property tax relief to homeowners.

“Since taking office, the number one concern that I hear from constituents across the 98th District is that property taxes are too high,” Manley said. “I have voted over 19 times to freeze property taxes, in addition to voting to increase exemptions and provide immediate relief to homeowners. This legislation combines both of these proposals in an effort to reign in skyrocketing property taxes for homeowners in our community.

Manley sponsored Senate Bill 484, which meets the governor’s request to freeze property taxes for four years and help meet the his demands in order to get put a budget in place. This property tax freeze applies to all units of government, except the most financially distressed school districts.

The proposal also increases property tax exemptions for homeowners, seniors and veterans. Under this proposal the homeowner occupied property tax exemption is increased to $8,000. The exemption available to seniors also increases from $5,000 to $6,000 under this legislation. The measure creates the Disabled Persons Freeze, which will be similar to the Senior Property Tax Freeze, but will only be available to individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income from the federal government. To help veterans and their families, the bill allows veterans with a 20 to 30 percent disability and veterans over the age of 75 to qualify for a $2,500 exemption.

“I am glad that we were able to finally pass meaningful property tax relief,” Manley said. “This in conjunction with the change in the school funding formula, that works to decrease reliance on property taxes to fund education are much needed steps to address high property tax rates across the state.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent service office at 815-725-2741 or RepManley@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, sponsored and voted for a major property tax relief bill as part of a larger compromise urging Governor Rauner to end Illinois’ three-year budget stalemate.

“The governor has made a property tax freeze a pre-condition to negotiating on a state budget,” said Yingling. “I am offering the governor a compromise by going further and offering a plan that would actually cut Lake County’s sky-high property taxes. My constituents can’t afford the state to freeze their unaffordable property taxes at such burdensome levels when we could be working to meaningfully reduce them.”

The Yingling-sponsored Senate Bill 484 contains a four-year property tax freeze on all units of government, except the most financially distressed school districts. In addition, all Illinois homeowners would receive a roughly 15 percent increase on the general homestead exemption, reducing the property value that is subject to taxation. In addition, Senate Bill 484 further expands property tax relief provisions for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities.

Even though the legislation included a property tax cut, the bill received only one of the House’s 51 Republican members. The vote fell one vote short of passage.

“This property tax legislation had the opportunity to provide homeowners confidence that property taxes can decline, and that Illinois’ politicians can compromise,” Yingling continued. “While I am disappointed that governor and the Republicans did not support this common-sense legislation, I will continue to work towards compromising with the governor towards property tax relief and a budget.

DECATUR, Ill. – Acting on the governor’s request for various non-budget items, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, supported a property tax freeze on all units of government Wednesday, in addition to measures on the issues of workers’ compensation and government consolidation.

“As I speak with area residents throughout my district, property tax relief is among the most frequently brought up issues,” said Scherer. “Families who are already struggling to make ends meet deserve relief from property taxes that continue to increase, even as home values decline.”

Senate Bill 484 represents a core component of Governor Rauner’s demands for a property tax freeze across Illinois. The bill contains a four-year property tax freeze on all units of government except the most financially distressed school districts. It also includes the previous property tax cuts for every homeowner introduced in House Bill 156, expanding the standard exemption provided to every homeowner while providing additional relief to seniors, veterans and disabled homeowners. However, Republican legislators acting on the orders of the governor blocked the compromise measure.

Scherer also voted for measures to address workers’ compensation reform and local government consolidation—which Governor Rauner has demanded as part of his non-budgetary agenda—with the hopes of bringing the governor back to the table to negotiate a real budget.

“To date, Governor Rauner has shown that he is flatly unwilling to make the slightest compromise. The legislation we voted on today meets the governor’s demands to compromise on his non-budget agenda, so it is time for him to focus on the budget,” said Scherer. “I implore him to come back to the negotiating table.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –In an effort to find common ground with Gov. Rauner, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, voted for measures on Wednesday that will freeze property taxes for four years, bring down workers’ compensation costs, allow for the consolidation of duplicative layers of government, and reform the state’s underfunded pension system.

“When walking door to door in my community, the top issue constituents bring up is that their property taxes are too high,” Mussman said. “Homeowners are feeling the pressure of rising property taxes and exploring options of moving out of state, and Senate Bill 484 aims to help give Illinoisans the relief they deserve. It also accomplishes Governor Rauner’s push to freeze property taxes, yet Republican legislators acting on the orders of the governor blocked the compromise measure.”

The Mussman-sponsored Senate Bill 484 contains a four-year property tax freeze on all units of government except the most financially distressed school districts. It also includes provisions from House Bill 156, which Mussman introduced and passed out of the House in April, that would increase the property tax exemption for all homeowners and provides additional relief to seniors, veterans and disabled homeowners.

Mussman also voted for measures to address workers’ compensation reform, local government consolidation, and pension reform—all of which Governor Rauner has demanded as part of his non-budgetary agenda—with the hopes of bringing the governor back to the table to negotiate a real budget.

“The measures that we voted on today represent good-faith efforts to compromise on the governor’s agenda. Now it is time to focus on the budget,” Mussman said. “I urge everyone to call Governor Rauner’s office to urge him to join us back at the negotiating table to finally bring an end this devastating budget impasse.”