Marilyn Smolenski Republican candidate for Illinois House District 55.
Marilyn Smolenski Republican candidate for Illinois House District 55.
Residents' fear of losing their home is very real in Illinois, according to the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 55.
“When I walk door to door, everyone says property taxes are too high; people are afraid of losing their homes,” Marilyn Smolenski, a GOP vying for the seat held by Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), recently told the North Cook News. “We need a fair and equitable tax assessment system and that’s why I support a 1-percent hard cap on property taxes, similar to what Indiana and California have.”
The Republican Women of Park Ridge board member, who owns Nickel and Lace, a women’s concealed-carry holster brand, said shared the story of one resident who is following in the footsteps of thousands of others.
Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines)
“Just the other day, a gentleman told me that his family had a 6-month plan to move to Florida,” Smolenski said. “He couldn’t afford the growing property taxes and rather than selling and downsizing, they would rather move to another state where they could maintain the same lifestyle for less money.”
In a January North Cook News report, Smolenski discussed at length the mass exodus from Illinois after an Illinois Policy Institute report “Illinois Loses Title of the 5th Largest State to Pennsylvania,” was published.
The report revealed a decline of 33,700 people from 2016 to 2017, according to Census Bureau data, and proved residents' fear is real, Smolenski said.
“Their taxes continue to rise while their home values are declining,” she said in January. “Property taxes are a symptom of the problems we have. The underlying problem is the politicians don’t care that you can’t afford to stay; they don’t care that you are being priced out of your home.”
The 55th District covers Chicago, Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Rolling Meadows.
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