Legislator continues push for tax freeze

<p class="p1">A Southern Illinois legislator continues to invite area residents to sign a petition in support of a property tax freeze in the state.</p><p class="p1">"Southern Illinois families have already been asked for more than their share of taxes," State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said.</p><p class="p1">Part of Union County is in 118th District, which Phelps represents.</p><p class="p1">"Rising property tax levels are pushing working families out of their homes and our communities, and it has to stop," Phelps added in a news release.</p><p class="p1">Phelps said that he organized the petition to freeze property tax in response to years of rising tax levels, despite many area homes decreasing in value.</p><p class="p1">During the ongoing legislative session, Phelps said he voted "over a dozen times to freeze property taxes."</p><p class="p1">"The petition is designed to highlight community support for the effort and convince his colleagues and the governor to join him in freezing property taxes," Phelps said.</p><p class="p1">"I've spent many hours over the past year walking door-to-door talking to residents, and I often hear how skyrocketing property taxes are pushing them out of their homes and ultimately out of Southern Illinois," Phelps stated.</p><p class="p1">"Southern Illinoisans have continued to see their hard-earned dollars be sent up to Chicago without any relief for themselves, and now their property taxes keep going up. I'll tell you, this has got to stop."</p><p class="p1">Southern Illinois residents can learn more about the petition by contacting his full-time constituent office by phone at 618-253-4189 or by emailing him at bphelps118@gmail.com.</p>