Metro East Sun

Illinois property taxes have risen 2.5 times quicker than inflation and 14 times faster than the state’s populace, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

The independent organization’s recent report breaks down in painful detail how Illinoisans are becoming more burdened each year by larger levies, and 111th District candidate Michael Babcock has had enough.

“Statistics show that one person leaves our state every four minutes,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “As property taxes increase, over-regulation on businesses expands, and the cost of doing business in Illinois rises this rate will continue to increase.”

Michael Babcock

Hoping to fill the seat of Rep. Daniel Beiser (D-Alton), who has decided not to seek re-election, the Republican insurance firm owner wants to see citizens stay in the 111th District, which includes Alton and Wood River in Madison County.

“As property taxes in Illinois increase, we are seeing a mass exodus of Illinois residents to other states where it is cheaper to live and do business,” Babcock said.

An earlier institute report revealed that Illinois was the most-taxed state in the United States. 

"Illinois was ranked the worst in the nation, with state and local governments effectively taxing median households at 14.76 percent,” according to the report. 

“Higher taxes result in higher migration out of Illinois,” Babcock said.

And it is not just property taxes pulling the state down, according to the institute.

"From 2010 through 2013, total school property-tax extensions grew 9.8 percent compared to a 6.9 percent increase in the consumer price index," according to the report. “In 2013, school property taxes comprised 63.2 percent of all property-tax extensions, the highest share on record going back to 1968.” 

This is a serious problem, according to Babcock, who is campaigning for more school funding.  Babcock said the only real solution to generate more money for education is by turning around the tax system.

The institute has said a “universal property-tax freeze,” is one answer, and Babcock agrees.

“We must freeze or lower property taxes and roll back regulations on businesses,” Babcock said.