February 12, 2025
Property

Illinois lawmaker suggests some residents ‘downsize’ if they can’t afford property taxes


An Illinois county board member on Thursday suggested some residents “downsize” if they can’t afford property taxes.

“We’re talking about people who are fed up with paying property taxes. I’ve been paying property taxes for 12 years,” Will County Board member Natalie Coleman, D-Plainfield, said during a board meeting. “If there comes a point in time where I couldn’t afford that, I’m going to downsize, and that might be the option for some people.”

Coleman also said that nobody in her district has complained about the taxes since she took office following her election in 2020.

We keep talking about increasing people’s taxes, people are struggling to eat, people are struggling to go here and go there, and in four years that I’ve been on the county board, I have not had one person in my district complain about property taxes,” she claimed.

Board member Raquel Mitchell, R-Bolingbrook, later said the first thing constituents ask her about is those taxes.

“That’s what people ask. So, I’m just telling ya that even though you may not get a call – I don’t get calls for property taxes,” she said. “But certainly, everybody I talk to, if they know that I’m in government, if they know that I’m on the county board, the first thing they’re gonna ask me is about the property taxes.”

Coleman argued more funds would help Will County fund necessary services like those from the local sheriff’s department, healthcare facilities and mental health board.

“All those things need to be funded so we can improve the quality of life for everyone in Will County,” she said.

Mitchell supported prioritizing the taxpayer.

I get it. We want people to have a nice life and all that, but … think about our taxpayers,” she said. “We also want them to have a nice life, and the idea that our taxpayers should downsize their lifestyles, and that the government doesn’t have to downsize its spending, is unconscionable.”

Coleman did not return a request for comment from The National News Desk.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.



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