Homes in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood are pictured in a file photo. (James Andrews / iStock)

Unlike the high-pressure campaign for Illinois’ 2020 graduated income tax amendment that bombarded voters with ads, this year’s tax reform proposal has maintained a quieter presence. 

The current measure takes a different approach from the one previously rejected with 53.27% of the vote.

The measure in 2020 was a proposed Constitutional amendment, whereas the question on this year’s ballot is advisory. Voters should think of this as a poll that will help the General Assembly judge the support for this kind of reform in their district and around the state. 

This year’s Property Tax Relief and Fairness Referendum is a non-binding measure that asks all Illinois voters if the state should levy a new 3% surcharge on income greater than $1 million per year. The revenue would fund property tax rebates for owner-occupied properties around the state. 

“This is a specific measure to reform Illinois’ upside down tax system,” former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said. “Right now, our state gives tax breaks to millionaires and higher property tax bills to everyday people.”

Quinn, working on his latest ballot measure, highlighted an Illinois law that created the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund but never funded it. The measure could impact 3 million properties in the state, and generate $4.5 billion a year according to an estimate from the Illinois Department of Revenue, Quinn said. 

“Our state is the second highest in the country in property taxes. Only New Jersey is higher,” Quinn said. “This is a specific way for voters to outline exactly how to give property tax relief on an annual basis to millions of households in Illinois that right now are beleaguered by an unfair property tax system.”

A press conference supporting the measure on Oct. 24 included Quinn plus U.S. Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García and Danny Davis.

Read More: WTTW News 2024 General Election Voter Guide

The people of Illinois are well acquainted with the impact of property taxes on their pocketbooks. A study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office found property tax bills in Cook County’s south and southwest suburbs climbed nearly 20% this year, the largest percentage increase in 30 years.

The measure is essentially taking the temperature of voters. If it were to receive a majority of votes, it would then be up to the General Assembly to pass a law, and then the voters would have to approve a Constitutional amendment to set the reform into motion.

“If this wins with a huge majority, that is ammunition for people that are saying property taxes are a burden pushing people out of state,” Kent Redfield, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said. “Even though this is advisory, it's still sending a message.” 

The referendum comes at a critical time for finances in Illinois, Redfield said. 

“We’re looking at a really bad fiscal year next year, because we’ve been supplementing our operating expenses with COVID money, and that’s gone,” Redfield said. “We're going to be in a situation where we may have to make some difficult trade-offs in terms of funding.”

The state has added revenue from cannabis and gambling in recent years, but Illinois is limited in its opportunities to increase revenue beyond that as pension and other costs rise. 

What Happened Last Time? 

Voters may be far less familiar with this year’s referendum than the graduated income tax amendment in 2020. That year pitted billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker against billionaire former Illinois resident and hedge fund manager Ken Griffin.

Records from the Illinois State Board of Elections show each contributed more than $50 million to support or oppose the graduated income tax. Other funders sent the total even higher.

This spending glut led to a barrage of ads supporting and opposing the measure that were impossible to miss at the time.

That measure would have changed the Constitution if approved, which was an important reason for the high fundraising totals. 

The graduated income tax measure left more discretion in changing tax structure and how it would be spent with the General Assembly. This measure proposes raising taxes at a specific income level and would use it specifically for property tax relief, unlike the 2020 measure, though it is advisory.

While there aren’t commercials on every platform opposing the measure this year, it has not been without opposition. 

The conservative Illinois Policy Institute urged voters to reject the measure, saying the state would fall short of its obligations to fund other required matters including pensions. 

This is one of three non-binding referenda on the ballot for all Illinois voters. 

One measure asks whether the state should require health insurance plans to provide for all medically-assisted reproductive treatments, including in-vitro fertilization. The other referendum asks if the General Assembly should establish civil penalties for a candidate who interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker’s official duties.

All three are advisory measures, meaning they would not immediately take effect following the vote no matter the outcome. The tax measure would require a law to be passed and voters to then approve a Constitutional amendment to impact their taxes. 

These measures were all placed on the ballot following Pritzker signing legislation in May.

Quinn said he heard frustration about the rising costs at recent community meetings, and he hopes the referendum will help soften the blow for those who are most affected.

“Some people are very upset about their property tax bill,” Quinn said. “It’s a punch in the nose when they open the envelope.”

Contact Jared Rutecki: @JaredRutecki | [email protected]