By State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) -
Illinoisans have played the dupe in one too many political sleight of hands. They can’t afford another illusion.
That’s why it is important to pay attention to the details – instead of relying on the perception a headline alone gives. The much lauded report from the Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates made 27 recommendations to improve efficiency in government which can lead to savings for taxpayers.
Most articles published around the state have focused on the task force’s recommendation to consolidate local units of government, since we have 35% more local entities than the next highest state. Articles also praised the new law taking effect that puts a moratorium on the creation of any new local unit of government for four years. Realize though, that the state hasn’t created a new local unit of government in many years and the new law still allows local government to create, uh, more local government.
Allowing consolidation and limiting the creation of government are great ideas – and I voted in favor of these bills in the Illinois House. But we can’t be tricked by gestures. Reducing the size and scope of government takes bold reforms to a complex regulations, such as property tax law.
In August 2013, SB 494 was signed into law allowing DuPage County to consolidate or eliminate units of government in the county. This law is considered a historic reform. According to county records, nearly two years later exactly one unit of government has been eliminated: the Fairview Fire District in Downers Grove, a “paper” fire district that levied a property tax and subcontracted the work to the Downers Grove Fire Department.
DuPage County successfully eliminated that fire protection district. Then immediately the 187 properties affected were put in a special services area (SSA), which is a complex provision in property tax law. The new SSA taxed them three times more than the old fire protection district cost. In fact, despite the hullabaloo and headlines about eliminating units of government, 16 new taxing districts were created – 15 were SSAs including the previous one discussed. Politicians may not define these SSA’s as “units of government,” but they have the power to tax – and take your property should you fail to pay.
In most cases, the only way to stop an SSA is to petition against it, which relies on citizens organizing and finding the voters and property owners to oppose the tax in writing. Here’s an example of how the game works: Conrad Frederick twice voted in favor of an SSA in Wheaton in 2009 and 2011, because he was a registered voter and failed to sign a petition opposing it. Actually, Mr. Frederick couldn’t have signed any petition because he died in 2008, but since he was on the voter roll, he counted in the base number to determine if 51% opposed the tax. The sleight of hand is codified in Illinois law, a trick played by politicians against those unfamiliar with complex property tax law – one in which the dead do get a vote.
Illinoisans have suffered enough thanks to the smoke and mirrors of long-term politicians. We cannot allow ourselves to become distracted by gestures of reform or fail to look beyond the headlines. Real policy reform must happen. For the fourth time since I became a legislator in 2013, I will file a bill to reform the SSA law, which will give power back to the people one small step at a time. I ask all those who have enthusiastically supported consolidation reform for taxpayers to join me in supporting significant SSA reform for those same families and businesses.
