Lake County Gazette

Ken Idstein insists it’s time for the voices of the people of Lake County to be heard on their most pressing issue.

“We cannot afford to find out what the residents in our county are all thinking without asking them and it seems clear that the ones who are squirming at the thought of asking Lake County residents about an additional statewide property tax are the ones who are generally supportive of these tax increases,” Idstein told the Lake County Gazette. “What is wrong with polling our electorate to find out what they feel about rising property taxes?”

The latest incarnation of the property tax debate stems from a plan proposed by the Federal Reserve to raise annual property taxes by nearly 50 percent for Lake County residents for the next 30 years. The plan also calls for much of the added windfall to be applied toward the state’s still growing pension liabilities.

Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake)

Earlier this month, the Lake County Board voted to incorporate a non-binding referendum banning any statewide property tax for Lake County residents on November’s general election ballot.

Idstein, running against incumbent Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District, believes that is the only sensible thing to do.

“A non-binding referendum will give the voters a greater voice and will not affect taxpayers. However, the prospect of implementing a statewide property tax would be disastrous for Illinois,” he said. “It inevitably will drive more taxpayers and businesses from this state. We should be focusing on lowering the outrageously high tax burden, not increasing it.”

The Lake County Gazette has reported the property tax rate carried by Lake County residents is already as high as 18 percent, prompting Idstein to fume enough is enough.

“Lake County residents already pay among the highest property tax rates in the nation, and they cannot afford to be railroaded with another scheme to shoulder the burden for decades of overpromises and budgetary gimmicks,” he said. “Taxpayers cannot afford another hike, and the state cannot afford to lose any more taxpayers.”

The first steps in arriving at a mendable solution for both sides lies in making the commitment not to raise taxes and resolving the pension crisis, Idstein said.

“We cannot climb our way out of our fiscal mess without addressing those two issues first,” he said. “We should commit to placing a hard cap on property taxes. Illinois residents would finally get the relief that they are seeking when they flee to neighboring states that offer a hard cap.”

The 62nd House District includes parts of Avon, Fremont, Grant, Lake Villa, Warren and Wauconda.