SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinoisans pay the second highest property tax in the nation, only behind New Jersey according to Tax Foundation. State House Republicans filed a set of bills in hopes of relieving the high costs.
Some of the plans include a tax exemption for seniors and reducing how much the property tax rate can be increased each year.
Both parties at the state level have tried to limit the rise in property taxes, but those taxes are levied at the county level, with a large portion of the money going to the school districts.
GOP lawmakers said the state needs to act or more people will move out of the state to cheaper Midwestern neighbors.
"As property tax assessments continue to go up seniors and homeowners get hit by that higher property value tax bill," State Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Machesney Park) said. "We have to look at this holistically from a state perspective and put down more pressure on limiting these increases."
All of these bills will require bipartisan support to pass, as Democrats hold a super majority in both chambers. House Republicans say the Democrats aren't letting them in on the conversation.
"Lets say Illinois is a building, the fifth largest in the state and it's on fire," State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-St. Charles) said. "[Lawmakers] are the firefighters. However, Democrats are the ones with the keys to the firehouse and they won't let us in so we can use the equipment we have inside to put out the fire."
Some of these bills are in committee, where they could be talked about by lawmakers in the near future.
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