Taxpayers should be able to more easily reduce their property tax burden, said State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), which is why he has filed an amendment to Senate Bill 1075 that would make it easier for taxpayers to rein in their property taxes.
“The number one complaint I hear from my constituents is about their outrageous property taxes,” said Sen. McConchie. “Illinois has the highest property tax rates in the country, which is why I am proposing legislation that makes it easier for homeowners to regain control of their taxes and make their tax obligations more manageable.”
Under current law, anyone can petition to lower the tax rate of a taxing district. However, they must obtain signatures from ten percent of the legal voters within that taxing district in order for the question to be placed on the ballot. McConchie’s legislation would change that number to five percent, making it more plausible to pursue a reduction of their tax rate.
“Current law, which few people seem to know exists, gives people the power to put limitations on how much a government can tax. However, the number of signatures currently required to place a property tax question on the ballot is unreasonable,” said McConchie. “Lowering the threshold from ten percent of voters in the taxing district, to five percent, will make this requirement more obtainable.”
McConchie’s proposal retains certain provisions in current law, specifically requiring the petition to specify the proposed tax rate and requiring any petition to be filed six months prior to the election during which the question would be considered by the voters.