SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is pushing forward in her fight for real property tax relief by introducing new legislation Thursday that would freeze property taxes for two years and cut taxes on middle-class families and seniors by increasing the value of cost-saving exemptions.

“Because of cripplingly high property tax rates, more middle-class families are fearing that staying in Illinois is not an option for them,” said Mussman. “Residents who worked hard to purchase a home in our community and want to stay and raise their families here are in desperate need of relief from ever-increasing property taxes.”

Mussman introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 851 Thursday, which contains a two-year property tax freeze on all units of government except the most financially distressed school districts. Mussman’s bill also increases the general homestead and senior citizens homestead exemptions to $10,000 and $8,000, respectively, for counties other than Cook. This would bring all counties up to the Cook County exemption levels established under Senate Bill 473, which took effect in August.

“This measure is another good-faith effort to meet the governor halfway on an issue that he and I agree on, the necessity to provide property tax relief for homeowners,” Mussman said. “I am encouraging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join this effort to help alleviate the tax burden on homeowners in our communities.”