Senior property tax assessment savings at risk

[FEB. 11, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Bill Mitchell helped pass crucial legislation Wednesday to extend the senior freeze on property tax assessments and allow seniors to continue saving money from their homeowner exemptions.

"The legislation enacted today [Feb. 8] reinstates provisions of a bill we initially passed in 1994 that was recently struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court," said Mitchell. "So many seniors have told me that they depend on the savings they receive in homeowner exemptions. We need to make sure they can remain eligible for the tax breaks."

House Bill 4789 freezes the property assessments for eligible senior citizens with an annual household income of $45,000 or less.

"This bill is vitally important for seniors living on a fixed income," said Mitchell. "Freezing their property assessment helps hold down rising property taxes. I'm happy the House took such quick action on this legislation. I've urged members in the Illinois Senate to act as quickly so that seniors' 2005 property tax bills will not affected by a lapse in the law."

For more information, contact Mitchell at [phone].

[News release from Rep. Bill Mitchell]