Lake County Gazette

As a proposal to freeze local property taxes in  Illinois sits in limbo after the state Senate refused to consider it  before recess this month, Jeri Barr, Grant township assessor, is among  officials voicing support for the measure.

SB 851, sponsored by  Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), would freeze taxes for two years  in six counties: Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will, according  to a memo from Bryan E. Smith, executive director of the Township  Officials of Illinois lobbying group. Township boards in other counties  and their constituents would be allowed to decide on a tax freeze by  ballot measure.

Some Republicans had characterized the bill as  “pandering” in the wake of a 32 percent hike in state income tax the  legislature approved earlier this year, according to a report from  Chicago’s CBS affiliate. Illinois households pay more than $8,000  annually in state and local taxes, ranking them No. 1 in the nation,  according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

The Peoria Journal-Star quoted Rauner as selling a property tax freeze to constituents last summer. 

He was quoted in the story as saying, “I  hear relentlessly about how difficult it is to raise a family, to make  ends meet, how difficult it is to build a business in the state of  Illinois with the property tax burden we’ve got.”got," he was quoted as saying.

Although  the governor might be able to score some points with voters by  championing a property tax freeze, some officials say it would rob  citizens of basic services.

Jeri Barr, Grant township assessor in Lake County, acknowledged that the issue has become a political football.

“I  believe the most important issue affecting the people in Grant township  is the huge amount they pay in property tax,” Barr told the Lake County Gazette.  “When someone is looking to get elected, it's a hot issue, but after  the election nothing happens. This is why many people are giving up on  Illinois – they can't afford to stay here."

Barr added her voice  to the growing support for implementing a tax freeze. Although she  agrees that the taxes support worthwhile projects, she said the overall  amount of township budgets are miniscule compared to bigger projects.

Barr  speaks from experience. She said Grant township is planning to extend  its own property tax freeze for a fifth consecutive year.

“If you  look at the portion of the property tax that goes to township  government, I think you would agree that it is the smallest portion of  the bill,” she said. “Which begs the question: Why isn't the media  talking more about the school funding in Illinois that leads to  approximately 70 percent of the property tax money needed?”

Barr  said she has attended numerous board meetings at schools across the  township, a remedy she recommends for low voter awareness.

“Grant  High School currently carries more than 150 percent in reserves, which  cost the taxpayers money that (the school) does not really need,” she  said. “The explanation that I hear from all taxing bodies is if they do  not take the maximum levy amount, they lose it forever. 

“Something needs to change this mindset,” she said.