Petition to Governor Pritzker: Reform Property Tax System to Alleviate Burden on South Suburbs of Cook County

Dear Governor Pritzker,

We, the undersigned residents of the South Suburbs of Cook County, are writing to express our deep concern regarding the outrageously high property taxes levied on our most vulnerable communities. 

The Problem: The current property tax system in Illinois, particularly in Cook County's South Suburbs is unsustainable and inequitable. Homeowners are struggling under the weight of excessively high property taxes, which are used primarily to fund local schools. This system disproportionately affects our community, leading to financial strain and potential displacement of long-term residents and represents a significant impediment to business/economic development.

Recent reports indicate that property taxes in Illinois have surged to alarming levels, with some areas experiencing tax hikes of up to 300%. This sharp increase is particularly unjust when one considers that it is based solely on market value, rather than the actual ability of property owners to pay. This discrepancy means that many residents are facing an unrealized capital gain due to the greatly increased property value placed on their homes. As a result, many families are struggling to maintain their homes and face the grim possibility of their homes being subject to tax sales or even foreclosure. 

Cook County property taxes place a substantial burden on homeowners as they contribute a disproportionate share of the costs to fund education in our state. We believe that it is imperative to explore and implement supplemental education funding sources to offset this unsustainable high property tax burden.

Proposed Solutions: To address this issue and provide much-needed relief to homeowners, we propose the following short-term intervention and long-term supplemental funding sources for education:

Short Term Intervention:

We urge the Governor to redirect $100 million of the funding intended for migrant issues and instead support direct property tax relief payments for qualifying modest-income homeowners in the South Suburbs. Specifically, start with direct relief payments for those living in Bloom, Rich, Thornton, and Bremen Townships who recently received their triennial reassessment.  Many of our families, particularly Senior Citizens are living on fixed incomes and very tight budgets. The unexpectedly higher property taxes are devastating, leading to possible forced sales and/or foreclosures, further destabilizing our communities.

Long Term Possible Solutions:

1. Progressive State Income Tax: Implement a progressive state income tax that ensures those with higher incomes contribute a fairer share towards funding public services, including education.

2. Sales Tax on Consumer Services: Introduce a small sales tax on consumer services. This could provide a steady stream of revenue without placing an undue burden on low- and middle-income families.

3. A Statewide Flat Tax on Equalized Assessed Value: Implement a statewide flat10% tax on Equalized Assessed Value (EAV). This would distribute the tax burden more equitably across all property owners in Illinois.

Our Request: We urge you, Governor Pritzker, to take immediate action to reform the property tax system and explore alternative funding sources for education. By doing so, you will help alleviate the financial burden on homeowners in the South Suburbs of Cook County and ensure a more equitable and sustainable funding model for our schools.

We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and look forward to your support in making the State of Illinois a fairer and more affordable place to live.

Sincerely,

The Property Tax Payers of South Suburban Cook County