North Cook News

Illinois State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) has criticized Democrat lawmakers for not doing enough to permanently ease the financial burden of high taxes, and instead only providing temporary relief during an election year.

Morrison took to social media to call out his colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

"Democrats can prove they are serious about providing lasting relief to Illinois families by joining us in the fight to reduce our state's burdensome taxes," Morrison wrote in a July 13 Facebook post. "Let's help Illinoisans save their hard-earned dollars for decades to come, rather than just when it is politically convenient."

His call to action comes as some Illinois families will soon receive rebate checks under The Illinois Family Relief Plan. WQAD reported it was part of the state's $46.5 billion budget and sets aside $1.8 billion for tax rebates. Illinoisans who lived in the state in 2021 and made less than $200,000 alone, or $400,000 for joint filers are eligible for an income tax rebate. Single filers will get a $50 rebate, or $100 for a married couple, plus an extra $100 for each dependent. Property owners meeting certain income requirements could also get a property tax rebate equal to 5% of what they paid in property taxes up to $300 per household.

According to a June report by Rocket Mortgage, Illinois had the second highest property tax rate in the nation at 2.27%. The owner of a $194,500 home in the Prairie State pays $4,942 each year. Only New Jersey had a higher property tax rate.

A March report by WalletHub found that Illinois had the tenth overall highest tax burden in the nation at 9.7%. The report weighed property, income, sales and excise taxes.