A study by Illinois Policy shows that in the seven years after the financial crisis of 2008, property taxes for Illinois residents rose, on average, six times faster than household incomes.
That fact is not lost on Amanda Biela, a Chicago schoolteacher who is running in the Republican primary for the seat held by Rep. John D'Amico (D-Chicago) in the 15th House District.
Biela has been making property tax relief a big part of her campaign and talking to constituents about how establishment politics in the Statehouse puts pressure on taxpayers. Also, she says, one of the most common things that she is hearing from others while canvassing is frustration with ever-growing real estate tax bills.
"Property taxes have spiked because a large majority of Illinois elected officials, both at the municipal and state level, see raising taxes as the only solutions to the financial woes of our state." Biela recently told Chicago City Wire.
Biela said she is advocating for a 1 percent hard cap on property taxes where homeowners would only pay 1 percent of the assessed value of their home.
"With a 1 percent property cap, local municipalities would be handcuffed and forced to make different decisions regarding spending, especially concerning education and governmental services," Biela said. "When there is never a limit on revenues coming in and taxes are continually raised, our representatives can spend without regard to the cost. The 1 percent property cap would also cause the state to pick up a greater percentage of educational spending ... and also the General Assembly actually take up the issue of pension reform."
D'Amico, Biela said, has been in office since 2004, so he has had the time to advocate for similar reforms.
"He enjoys two public pensions and a generous salary of $67,000," Biela said of D'Amico. "But (he) does little to relieve the tax burden that is causing Illinoisans to leave the state or possibly lose their homes."
In a recent Facebook post, Biela spoke further about the exodus of people and businesses from the state.
"It been happening for several years now," Biela wrote. "Friends, neighbors, co-workers are moving away. Ask any Illinoisan, they can name a half dozen folks off the top of their head that left our state for greener pastures ... Why have so many pulled up stakes?"
The answer, she said, is simple: many can't afford their property taxes.
"Not only are (Illinois property taxes) the highest in the nation, but they are increasing at six times faster than household incomes," Biela wrote. "We’ve been told for years to pursue the dream of homeownership, but thanks to our political leaders and their insatiable need to tax, it has become a nightmare."
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