LOBBYIST'S ARE TAXING TO CHICAGO'S POSNER
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THE CHICAGO GOSSIP
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THE CHICAGO GOSSIP
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Kathy Posner
State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) advanced a measure to limit the growth of property taxes through the House Revenue committee last week and expects a full House vote in the near future.
His proposed legislation, House Bill 3793, provides that if the value of the property for the current taxable year is less than the total value in the previous year, then property taxes cannot be increased. The legislation lowers the amount in which property taxes can grow from 5% to 0% unless an increase is specifically approved by the voters.
The Synopsis As Introduced:
“Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year (excluding new property, recovered tax increment value, and property that is annexed to or disconnected from the taxing district in the current levy year) is less than the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the previous levy year, then the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters). Effective immediately.”
“As families tighten their belts to make ends meet, we must ensure that government does the same,” Franks said. “The goal must be to ensure property levies are fair and equitable – the current Property Tax Extension Limitation (PTELL) law is neither.”
In 1991, state legislators passed the PTELL or tax cap, to stop the rapid expansion of property taxes. Under current law, the ceiling of 5 percent or the rate of inflation on any increases went from protecting homeowners to harming them as real estate values have plummeted.
What Franks is proposing is great for homeowners. Because he is a state legislator, taxpayers provide the funding for his salary from taxes they pay. Money well spent, but that is PAYMENT NUMBER ONE.
Because property taxes have escalated, homeowners have had to come up with more cash to keep their homes. Money, not well spent, and that is PAYMENT NUMBER TWO.
Groups such as the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Association of School Boards, Metro Counties of Illinois and Township Officials of Illinois don’t like the bill. After all, it would reduce the amount of revenue those taxing bodies would receive. Therefore, local government lobbyists are fighting to kill the bill.
Who pays for these lobbyists? The groups’ lobbying efforts are funded through dues paid for by government – translate that into money coming from tax revenue. So taxpayer dollars are being used to fight a tax relief measure! That is PAYMENT NUMBER THREE.
As Franks said, “I don’t think that a taxpayer-funded lobbyist should be lobbying government for higher taxes. It’s appalling that they don’t see the conflict.”
Simply put, homeowners, who want lower property taxes, and support Franks’ bill, are funding the lobbyists who are fighting against the bill!
It is not only an appalling conflict; it should be against the law! Maybe Franks can propose another law, name it the Posner Bill. It would prevent taxpayer-funded lobbyists from lobbying against anything that is essentially good for the taxpayers who pay their salary. It would never pass because it makes good cents.
Read More From Planet Posner Here....
His proposed legislation, House Bill 3793, provides that if the value of the property for the current taxable year is less than the total value in the previous year, then property taxes cannot be increased. The legislation lowers the amount in which property taxes can grow from 5% to 0% unless an increase is specifically approved by the voters.
The Synopsis As Introduced:
“Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the current levy year (excluding new property, recovered tax increment value, and property that is annexed to or disconnected from the taxing district in the current levy year) is less than the total equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the taxing district for the previous levy year, then the extension limitation is (a) 0% or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters (instead of the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the levy year or (b) the rate of increase approved by voters). Effective immediately.”
“As families tighten their belts to make ends meet, we must ensure that government does the same,” Franks said. “The goal must be to ensure property levies are fair and equitable – the current Property Tax Extension Limitation (PTELL) law is neither.”
In 1991, state legislators passed the PTELL or tax cap, to stop the rapid expansion of property taxes. Under current law, the ceiling of 5 percent or the rate of inflation on any increases went from protecting homeowners to harming them as real estate values have plummeted.
What Franks is proposing is great for homeowners. Because he is a state legislator, taxpayers provide the funding for his salary from taxes they pay. Money well spent, but that is PAYMENT NUMBER ONE.
Because property taxes have escalated, homeowners have had to come up with more cash to keep their homes. Money, not well spent, and that is PAYMENT NUMBER TWO.
Groups such as the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Association of School Boards, Metro Counties of Illinois and Township Officials of Illinois don’t like the bill. After all, it would reduce the amount of revenue those taxing bodies would receive. Therefore, local government lobbyists are fighting to kill the bill.
Who pays for these lobbyists? The groups’ lobbying efforts are funded through dues paid for by government – translate that into money coming from tax revenue. So taxpayer dollars are being used to fight a tax relief measure! That is PAYMENT NUMBER THREE.
As Franks said, “I don’t think that a taxpayer-funded lobbyist should be lobbying government for higher taxes. It’s appalling that they don’t see the conflict.”
Simply put, homeowners, who want lower property taxes, and support Franks’ bill, are funding the lobbyists who are fighting against the bill!
It is not only an appalling conflict; it should be against the law! Maybe Franks can propose another law, name it the Posner Bill. It would prevent taxpayer-funded lobbyists from lobbying against anything that is essentially good for the taxpayers who pay their salary. It would never pass because it makes good cents.
Read More From Planet Posner Here....
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