McHenry Times

As the Republican candidate for the state House seat in District 66, Allen Skillicorn is focused on the burdensome taxes that are plaguing the state.

“We must change the way we govern to stop the crushing burden of higher property taxes,” Skillicorn recently told the McHenry Times. “We are up against dysfunctional unfunded mandates and climbing employee costs.”

Skillicorn said that one of the biggest unfunded mandates that raises costs and drives jobs out of the “collar counties” is prevailing wages.

“Prevailing wage for Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Kendall counties requires all municipal building projects to pay Chicago labor rates,” Skillicorn said. “That includes private construction projects in TIF districts. Unfortunately, this unfunded mandate tripled labor costs on a recent redevelopment project in East Dundee. Furthermore, this prevailing wage makes local contractors less competitive against Chicago contractors, driving jobs out of the collar counties.”

Skillicorn argues that the only way to restore true economic opportunity in Illinois is to remove control from House Speaker Mike Madigan and the Chicago political class.

“Speaker Madigan has amassed vast wealth profiting from Illinois’ convoluted property tax system,” Skillicorn said. “For insiders like Madigan, the system works great. I’m running for the rest of us.”

Skillicorn said that both Kane and McHenry counties have some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

“Our jobless rate also leads the nation,” Skillicorn said. “Families I talk with are hurting because the politicians in Springfield refuse to work out solutions to our economic and job climate problems. Legislators had five months this session to find solutions, to find some compromise. Instead, under direction from Mike Madigan and the Chicago Democrats in charge, the legislature had time to pass a ridiculous resolution for Healthy Puppy Day but did not have time for a third reading and vote on a stop-gap measure that would ensure our schools open on time and fund core services.”

Skillicorn’s vitriol is apparent, and he is passionate about helping those in his district and beyond.

“This doesn’t work for our families," Skillicorn said. "All these politicians claim to be for lower taxes, yet we pay the highest property taxes. We don’t have a balanced budget despite all these politicians who claim they are fiscally conservative. Reforming Illinois is about substance. Talk versus action. I am going to Springfield to do the right thing, not just say the right thing.”