Lake County Gazette

Illinois state Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) is among a group of Republican lawmakers calling for a renewed focus on the critical issue of property-tax reform.

Nearly a year to the day since the Property Tax Relief Task Force was created to address the issue, Wilcox is teaming with fellow Senate task force members Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) in demanding that more be done to aid struggling Illinois property owners.

“While I certainly had concerns that this would be another case of ‘form a task force, hold a bunch of meetings and develop recommendations that never come to fruition,’ I still went into this process with an open mind hoping for a robust dialogue on this issue that is so critical to so many in our state,” said Wilcox. “It is unfortunate that a year later, my fears have proved true and we’re still without any substantial property-tax reform at a time when Illinois families need it more than ever.”

Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) | File photo

Composed of appointees tabbed by the governor and other legislative leaders, the task force was split into seven subcommittees, each tasked with examining specific areas of property-tax reform, including local governments' tax levy, TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts, local pensions, school funding and school property taxes. In devising a comprehensive plan, the 56 state representatives and 30 senators assigned to the task force also worked with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and the State Board of Education.

In addition to submitting a report to the governor’s office within 90 days, the task force was also charged with submitting a final report to the entire General Assembly by the end of 2019, both obligations that went unfulfilled.

It’s not what Wilcox had hoped for a year ago.

“There are two important aspects to the property-tax issue that I hope we address,” he said at the time of his installation last August. “Unfunded state mandates and the costs they push onto local governments, which fuel property-tax increases; and consideration of longstanding community members who are in a financial situation – after their productive work years – who are now being taxed out of their homes because of rising property tax rates.”