(The Center Square) – Some see the millionaire’s tax advisory question on November’s ballot as a measure that could amount to property tax relief in Illinois. Others say it’s financial recklessness.
With some Illinois homeowners facing continued property tax hikes, a plan that has the public support of former Gov. Pat Quinn is being sold as a measure that could mean as much as $4.5 billion in such relief.
State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, argues those numbers simply don’t add up.
“It’ll be another example of how the super-majority doesn’t understand what’s necessary for entrepreneurs to thrive in Illinois,” he told The Center Square. “My Democrat friends create all kinds of deserts through bad policy. If we create this policy, it’ll create small business and mid-size business deserts. We need climate change; we need to change the business climate in Illinois.”
The nonbinding measure poses the question: “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?” Supporters say it opens the door for voters to have their first real chance of affecting the kind of property tax change many profess to crave.
McLaughlin views it as a losing proposition for all those involved.
“All it’s really going to do in the long term is push future employers out of the state of Illinois, business owners and entrepreneurs who in many instances are the ones that have taken the risk and built,” he said. “Businesses hire people. Those are the guys that they’re going after. So, it’s a success tax.”
McLaughlin argued voters shouldn’t even be faced with deciding how they feel about such a proposal, saying the tax amounts to a graduated hike, which isn’t allowed by the state constitution.
“This measure is unconstitutional,” he said. “It flies in the face of the graduated tax that the governor put forth … and the voters rejected [in 2020]. But, you know, the Democrat supermajority needs money because their appetite is never satisfied for spending. This really is just another case of ‘we’re going to go after someone else’s money.’”
McLaughlin said word in Springfield is the latest push for additional tax revenues stem from taxpayer money allocated during the pandemic running out and there is no funding source for all the permanent programs that were put into place.
