(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Republican state lawmakers have proposed a plan that they say could bring property tax relief and business to struggling areas across Illinois, including in Chicago’s south suburbs.
The legislation, backed by Illinois Reps. Dan Ugaste and Tim Ozinga, would freeze state pension payments where they are. Then, as pension payments gradually take up a lower and lower portion of the budget — as is currently happening — the extra money would go to property tax relief.
Former Republican lawmaker Mark Batinick of Plainfield crafted the plan, and he said it could make cities like Harvey more attractive for business investment.
“You look at the south suburbs, it should be awesome for economic growth,” he said. “You’ve got affordable real estate; you’ve got a capable workforce; you’ve got all kinds of transportation there.”
The problem, he said, is that the types of businesses that would want to relocate to a city like Harvey are often big box retailers or manufacturers, both of which have large real estate footprints.
“It just isn’t economically viable when your property tax rate in Harvey is four times what it is in Winnetka,” he said.
Batnick said he’s discussed the proposals with some Democrats. Although he described those talks as productive, he told WBBM that he hopes politics doesn’t get in the way of a proposal that he believes would help more Democrat districts than it would Republican districts.
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