Illinoisans pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Property tax bills in the Land of Lincoln grew six times faster than household incomes from 2008 to 2015. Taxes, in fact, are the main reason residents say they’d like to leave the state.
In addition to sky-high rates, the Illinois property tax system is so complicated that it practically requires a lawyer to appeal the assessments that result in higher property taxes.
Lawmakers such as House Speaker Mike Madigan, Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and state Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, benefit from a system that allows them to influence property tax policy while profiting as lawyers appealing those property taxes. This creates a disincentive for these legislators to reform the system to the benefit of taxpayers.
Sign the petition today to support banning lawmakers from acting as property tax appeal lawyers.