Property tax freeze effort continues
<p class="p1">A Southern Illinois state legislator continues to work for a property tax freeze.</p><p class="p1">State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said Oct. 30 in a news release that he continues to collect petitions from residents calling for a property tax freeze.</p><p class="p1">Part of Union County is in the 118th District, which Phelps represents.</p><p class="p1">Phelps said that he also is calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner to support efforts to bring relief to struggling homeowners.</p><p class="p1">“I have knocked on doors and talked to residents throughout this whole district, and no matter where you go people are saying it’s time for property tax relief,” Phelps said. </p><p class="p1">“I’ve voted over fifteen times to bring property tax relief to Southern Illinois, but the governor and the politicians he controls refuse to support it.”</p><p class="p1">The Illinois General Assembly has voted multiple times on legislation that would put a stop to the automatic annual increases to property tax levies. </p><p class="p1">Under proposed legislation, property tax levies would only be able to increase with the approval of local voters, Phelps said. </p><p class="p1">That initiative failed to gain enough support in the Illinois House of Representatives, which led Phelps to announce the plans for the petition drive. </p><p class="p1">Phelps said that "Springfield needs to see that residents are demanding action on behalf of their elected officials to address the property tax system." </p><p class="p1">Phelps said the bill will not get passed "until either the governor decides to support it or more Republican representatives decide to break ranks and back the bill. I’m backing a property tax freeze because the people of Southern Illinois deserve relief and it’s my job to advocate on their behalf,” Phelps said. </p><p class="p1">“I’m urging the governor and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do the same and provide relief to the people of our state.”</p><p class="p1">Information about the property tax petition is available by contacting Phelps' constituent service office by phone at 618-253-4189 or by email at bphelps118@gmail.com.</p>