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U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by the Illinois Policy
Institute also shows that at least 15% of households pay upwards
of 50% of their income for housing, rendering them by federal
standards as “severely burdened.” At the same time, data shows
that the typical homeowner’s property taxes have jumped by $756
since 2019, leaving the state home to the second-highest rates
in the country.
Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, is sounding the alarm as property
taxes are on the rise.
“It's having a devastating effect and it’s only getting worse,”
Caulkins told The Center Square. “We've seen our population
decline and it's also a deterrent for new businesses to come to
Illinois. In order to keep or attract businesses, we're having
to give them all kinds of incentives. It's if you're taking
money out of the left pocket and putting it in the right pocket
and claiming that you're creating jobs.”
Caulkins said the taxpayer cost of government continues to
increase.
“It's clearly a testament to the Democrat government,” Caulkins
said. “We're forcing local municipalities, taxing bodies with
all of these mandates. It pushes that burden, that decision on
local governments to find a way to replace that revenue.”
Overall, the typical Illinois homeowner now pays roughly $5,055
in property taxes or more than double the national average of
$2,457.
Caulkins frets there is little relief in sight with Democrats
holding the supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly.
“They've got a $52 billion piggy bank and they don't feel
threatened because they're able to draw the map and they don’t
face any serious electoral challenges,” he added.
Caulkins is also quick to point out that the state has now lost
population for 10 straight years. More than 50% of voters polled
in a recent survey cited high taxes as the primary reason they
would leave if given the chance.
“The more we require these communities to do, the higher our
property taxes go,” he said. “The more people leave, the fewer
people are here to pay the bill.”
Still, the veteran lawmaker argues there’s a simple solution.
“We need a cap on property taxes until we get our house in order
and quit mandating all of these things down to the local level,”
Caulkins said.
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