McHenry Times

A freshmen Illinois state lawmaker is on a mission to uplift homeowners across the state.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has filed six bills aimed at reducing property taxes and bringing about a measure of relief to overburdened homeowners across the state.

“I’m hoping to get these passed so people can have some relief and we can stop chasing people and businesses out of this state,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. “The Democrat-controlled Property Tax Relief Task Force failed to produce any solutions to help our taxpayers.”

Ugaste’s proposals would do everything from allowing taxpayers to consolidate government entities that are too expensive to requiring some school districts to combine operations to limiting tax increment financing (TIF) to 15 years. 

“Rather you’re a property owner or not, rising property taxes impact us all in one way or another,” Ugaste added. “It’s one of the things many business owners are telling us is driving them out of Illinois and to someplace else to do business.”

Ugaste said the reception to his proposals from his colleagues has been positive, and he’s hoping to work and advance the bills based on the amount of support each of them generates.

The 88-member Property Tax Relief Task Force convened by Gov. J.B. Pritzker late last year ended with Republican members refusing to sign off on a draft report because it failed to reflect their recommendations or propose any structural changes to the flawed system.

“Our high property taxes are forcing too many families and businesses to leave and residents are fed up,” Ugaste added. “The bills that I have filed are a step forward to provide the real relief the task force failed to do.”