McHenry Times

To get a jumpstart on key property tax matters, Republican Allen Skillicorn, newly elected to the District 66 state House seat, yielded his East Dundee trustee position after his last official meeting on Monday.

Scheduled to replace outgoing state Rep. Michael Tryon (D-Crystal Lake) on Jan. 11, Skillicorn envisioned the transition going more smoothly if he were free to focus efforts on the road ahead.

“Stepping down three weeks early also allows me to focus on a Property Tax Freeze Referendum for both Kane and McHenry counties,” Skillicorn said. “Volunteers and I still need to gather many signatures before the New Year’s deadline to add the question to the April 4 ballot about a countywide property-tax freeze.”

Skillicorn said a number of special interests who wish to hike property taxes may impede a property tax freeze. At the same time, he spoke highly of his local jurisdiction.

“I’m so thrilled to see all the progress here in East Dundee,” he said, referring to recent accomplishments in the district where he has served as a trustee for the past five years.

Noting East Dundee’s recent retail growth, the new state lawmaker expressed excitement about his village’s new restaurants and other revenue sources and commended his colleagues.

“The board I’m leaving has shown so much creativity and discipline,” Skillicorn said. “I’m confident they will keep serving the community with the same enthusiasm. There also isn’t a week that goes by when I’m not reminded by the voters about the large shoes I must fill at Rep. Mike Tryon’s office.”