Southland voters asked about state property tax rebates in primary referendums

Voters in four south and southwest suburban townships will decide on nonbinding referendums asking whether the state government should provide annual property tax rebates to more than 3 million residential property taxpayers.

Thornton, Rich, Orland and Palos townships approved identical ballot measures for the primary election, seeking voter input on potential state-level property tax relief programs. The referendums come as south suburban homeowners face historic tax increases, with median tax bills rising 19.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

The nonbinding referendums ask voters whether Illinois should deliver annual property tax rebates to residential property taxpayers statewide. The question represents an advisory measure designed to gauge public sentiment rather than enact immediate policy changes.

Orland and Palos townships added a second ballot question asking voters to consider support for a federal tax credit scholarship program championed by the Trump administration. The advisory measure asks whether Illinois should participate in a federal program using privately-donated funds for tutoring, test preparation, private school tuition, exam fees and other academic needs for kindergarten through high school students in public or private schools, as well as homeschool students.

The scholarship program referendum does not mention that donors who contribute up to $1,700 to scholarship organizations would receive an equivalent amount in federal tax credits.

Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan and Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady said the property tax referendum was recommended by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. Quinn previously supported a measure on the November 2024 ballot asking whether the Illinois Constitution should be amended to create a 3% tax on individuals earning more than $1 million, with revenue dedicated to property tax relief.

“This is a major opportunity for hard hit taxpayers to send a message to the legislature and to the governor,” Quinn said Friday.

Quinn continues to advocate for the state constitutional amendment, which he said could generate funds needed to provide the rebates under consideration by south suburban residents. The former governor characterized the referendum as a chance for voters to communicate their priorities to state lawmakers.

South suburban homeowners experienced significant financial strain from the 2024 tax increases, with some communities seeing particularly steep jumps in their property tax obligations. In Dixmoor, a village in Thornton Township, residents faced among the highest increases in the region.

The first installment of 2025 property taxes in Cook County will be due April 1, adding urgency to discussions about potential relief measures.

The township-level referendums represent part of a broader conversation about property tax reform in Illinois, where residents consistently rank among the highest-taxed homeowners in the nation. The advisory questions allow local officials to demonstrate constituent support for state-level action without requiring immediate legislative implementation.