Will County Gazette

State Representative Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) is urging fellow lawmakers to support a property tax relief bill aimed at addressing the high property tax burden in Illinois. In a statement, Rep. Ozinga emphasized the need to rectify the disparities in property tax rates across the state, which he believes are causing undue hardship on families, communities, and businesses.

"There is a great injustice occurring in the state of Illinois that we have the power to fix," said Rep. Ozinga. "The high property tax burden is suffocating families, communities, and businesses, especially in areas that are already struggling. But the extremes of property tax rates vary greatly across our state, sometimes even between towns in the same county. It’s time we ask – why are some struggling communities across our state paying four times the effective tax rate than more affluent communities?"

To address this crisis, Rep. Ozinga, along with State Representative Dan Ugaste, has introduced House Bill 4866. The bill proposes the creation of the Education Property Tax Relief Fund, which would provide property tax relief grants to school districts. The aim is to alleviate the burden on all areas of the state, with the hardest-hit areas potentially seeing up to a 50% reduction in school district property tax rates.

"We must not stand in the way of our neighbors to believe that their kids and grandkids will do better and accomplish more than they ever hoped or dreamed," Rep. Ozinga expressed. "Together, we can stand up and lead the way to transform the lives of millions of individuals and families for generations to come."

Rep. Ozinga is now calling for the support of his colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly to pass this bill and lower property taxes, providing opportunities for all Illinoisans to achieve the American dream.

In a video posted on his website, RepOzinga.org, Representative Ozinga elaborates further on the benefits of the proposed legislation.

It remains to be seen how the bill will progress in the Illinois General Assembly, but with Rep. Ozinga's call for support, the issue of property tax relief may gain momentum and attention from lawmakers. If successful, this bill could potentially bring significant relief to struggling communities and pave the way for a more equitable property tax system in Illinois.