Will County Gazette

Patrick Sheehan, State Representative of Illinois, said that the state’s new budget raises taxes without offering property or other tax relief for residents, families, and seniors. The statement was made on X.

"Illinois families were handed a budget that raises taxes, increases spending, and ignores hard working citizens," said Sheehan, State Representative from Illinois. "No property tax relief, or any tax relief. Democrats pushed a plan that forces $1 billion in new taxes, hitting families, seniors and job creators."

Illinois' state budget negotiations in 2024 focused on passing a $53.1 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2025. According to Capitol News Illinois, the discussions involved heated debates over targeted tax increases rather than broad-based hikes. Key issues included sports betting, corporate tax adjustments, and funding for education and healthcare.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the 2025 Illinois budget includes approximately $1.1 billion in new revenue from higher sports betting taxes, increased taxes on businesses, and changes to sales tax rules for online retailers. This supports a 4% increase in overall spending compared to the previous year.

A report by the Tax Foundation in 2023 found that Illinois has the nation’s second-highest property tax rate at about 2.08%, while state income tax rates remained flat. The new budget offered limited direct property tax relief, sparking ongoing calls for reform.

As reported by the Illinois General Assembly, Patrick Sheehan is the current Republican State Representative for Illinois’ 37th District, appointed in April 2024. He previously served as a Lockport alderman and worked in law enforcement, bringing a background in public safety and local government to the House.