State Halts Creation Of New Local Taxing Bodies
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Bruce Rauner, who made consolidating the state's massive number of local government bodies a prominent piece of his agenda, has signed legislation to impose a moratorium on the creation of any new taxing bodies in Illinois.
According to data from the U.S. Census, Illinois has the most taxing bodies of any state, with nearly 7,000 local government authorities that have power to levy property taxes. They range from city councils and school boards to special districts for public libraries, fire protection, sewers and sanitation, and mosquito abatement.
"These things, by and large, show up on your tax bill routinely; and it's time to end that practice," state Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle).
This spring, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation to prohibit the creation of any new unit of local government for four years – unless it is done through the consolidation of two or more existing taxing bodies. Rauner signed the measure on Thursday.
"The legislation is designed to essentially stop the bleeding, so to speak," Connelly said. "The governor heard loud and clear – as did the General Assembly – in this past election cycle: stop putting new taxing bodies on our property tax bills."
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He noted the state's property tax burden is the second highest in the nation, and the cause is thousands of unnecessary layers of bureaucracy.
"You have mosquito abatement districts. You actually have unincorporated areas that have lighting districts. They have an elected body that takes … tax revenue to pay for street lights," he said.
