Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson has grown accustomed to hearing horror stories about Illinois’ soaring property tax rates.

“I’ve had a growing number of people tell me their property tax bill is now higher than their mortgage payment,” the real estate professional running against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the113th District told the Metro East Sun. “That’s the kind of thing that can put you underwater really quick, because not many people can afford to regularly pay both.”

Jameson said he’s not the least bit surprised that a recent report by property data experts ATTOM Data Solutions found that at least 387,854 property owners across the state now owe mortgages of at least 25 percent more on their loans than their property is worth.

Doug Jameson

“We know from past studies that in Illinois property taxes are the top reason people are leaving the state,” he added. “When I say with property taxes the government is taxing people out of a house and home, it’s literally a fact.”

Among Illinois counties, Boone, Montgomery and Bond had the highest percentage of property owners saddled with mortgages of at least 25 percent more than their property is worth, with 2 in 5 Boone-area property owners impacted and an average of 38 percent of those in Montgomery and Bond.

Jameson said he’s in full support of an initiative that’s been floated that would put a cap on rates for property taxes, only allowing residents to change that through a referendum vote.

“We’ve got to start allowing people to have the responsibility and opportunity to determine what kind of local government they want and need for themselves,” he said. “To slightly modify one of President Trump’s saying, ‘I’m trying to make Illinois affordable again.’”

As for his rival, Jameson said he hasn’t seen Hoffman try to do much to make a difference.

“He’s got all these YouTube videos out claiming to have voted for lower property taxes numerous times; but even if he’s tried, the mere fact that it’s never worked tells me he’s not effective at his job,” Jameson said. “He was the floor leader for (former Gov. Rod) Blagojevich. “What he said should have carried some weight, if he truly meant it.”