Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) might not be a superhero, but she knows an archenemy when she sees one: In Illinois, her longtime nemesis has been what she sees as an unfair property tax system, and she wants to form a team to fight it.

To that end, Ives worked with Naperville Township Assessor Warren Dixon on legislation to create a property tax task force. The only obstacle – as seems to be the case with a lot of legislation these days – is that it's not moving forward.

"I filed this legislation in February of this year, well before the Chicago Tribune trilogy of articles exposing the corrupt and inequitable assessments in Chicago," Ives told the DuPage Policy Journal. "Illinoisans pay the highest property taxes and are subject to the most onerous system.

Though optimistic about the task force possibility, Ives said the bill had to be refiled recently due to an error during drafting; it will re-emerge as HJR69.

"This task force will look at how we can make our system more objective and fair to all," Ives said. "The task force will ensure assessors around the state are adequately trained and even consolidate smaller assessing districts that have trouble finding qualified assessors."

Though the bill was proposed by a Republican, Ives is not alone in the fight. Several Republicans and even two Democratic colleagues have signed on as co-sponsors. Still, the measure was not brought up in the special legislative session.

"I have asked the Democrat chairperson of the Revenue Committee to help move the new bill through committees," Ives said. "It is now obvious to all that my task force is very important to every property owner in Illinois, but especially those in the minority communities on the south and west sides of Chicago and south suburban Cook County. This task force will look at how we can make our system more objective and fair to all."