Chicago City Wire

Experts from the Illinois Policy Institute are ready to comment on the referenda and policy reforms that will appear on ballots in Illinois on April 1. This upcoming municipal election will allow around 600,000 residents to influence discussions on property tax issues.

Voters in several townships, including Palatine, Lemont, Homer, Palos, and Winfield, will face a key question regarding pension reform. They will decide on whether the state should proceed with constitutional reforms that aim to protect retirements and generate savings. These savings could lead to property tax reductions or alternatively be reinvested in local communities.

Bryce Hill, the director of fiscal and economic research for the Illinois Policy Institute, emphasized the potential impact of the election, stating, "Changing current policies surrounding rising pension costs, unfunded mandates and unfair representation in elections will make a difference in helping Illinoisians find meaningful property tax relief." He further noted, "The upcoming election represents a rare chance for voters to let lawmakers know these issues are important to them. This is a good first step, but the fight for policy reform doesn’t stop here."

Residents interested in understanding the advisory questions further can visit illin.is/advisory for more details.