North Cook News

Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is not taking his appointment to the state’s new Property Tax Relief Task Force lightly – anything but.

“Illinois residents are desperate for property tax relief and this task force gives us an opportunity to provide that relief through real reforms,” Morrison told North Cook News. “I am eager to get to work to provide the solutions that our taxpayers need. This task force is the best step forward to working through one of the biggest roadblocks to our state’s success.”

Morrison was installed as one of 15 members of the bipartisan group assembled by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs). The group’s mandate includes examining the root causes of the state’s soaring property tax rates and formulating legislative solutions that Springfield lawmakers can easily move to enact.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs)

“Property taxes remain the biggest issue by far and that is the biggest tax almost everybody faces,” Morrison said after lawmakers ended the spring session by passing legislation paving the way for $4.7 billion in new taxes and added fees. “I just remind people that while we need to fund roads and make sure infrastructure is safe, there was no other tax relief anywhere else in the budget.”

The task force will be required to submit regular reports and potential solutions to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly, with a final report due by the end of the year. Other Republican lawmakers on the task force include Reps. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton), Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva), Tim Butler (R-Springfield) and Mike Murphy (R-Springfield).

Morrison’s 54th District includes portions of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and South Barrington.