Sangamon Sun

In Illinois, the state budget has become a contentious issue. During the spring session, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly approved a $53.1 billion spending plan for 2025, which is $2.6 billion more than the previous year’s budget and includes $1 billion allocated for non-citizens. Critics argue that this level of spending places an undue burden on taxpayers.

State Representative Mike Coffey has expressed concern over what he perceives as wasteful spending by politicians in Illinois. He believes that such fiscal policies are detrimental to taxpayers, especially when families are expected to manage their finances responsibly while the government does not.

Rep. Coffey emphasized his commitment to supporting legislation aimed at reducing taxes for Illinois families. "I haven’t forgotten that the state budget is funded by taxpayers which is why I’m backing legislation that keeps Illinois families at the top of mind when it comes to taxes," he stated.

A study released by Wallet Hub in February 2024 highlighted Illinois' high property tax burden, ranking second-highest in the nation with a statewide rate of 2.23% across all counties. Rep. Coffey criticized the majority party for failing to address these high property taxes and instead focusing on social programs without adequately funding education and local governments.

“Hard-working families in Illinois deserve property tax relief but the Supermajority party is driving up costs with their approach to policymaking," said Coffey. "Rising property taxes drive families to other states to save money and I think we need to take a hard look into how we can lower property taxes and still maintain general revenue for state projects.”

To advocate for change, there is a call for residents to sign a petition demanding relief from high taxes and fees.