Sangamon Sun

Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed the issue of high property taxes in the state during the Sangamon County Republican Women's 17th Annual Luncheon at the Illini Country Club in Springfield. He emphasized that these taxes undermine affordability and promised structural reforms.

"Punishingly-high property taxes are making Illinois unaffordable and driving residents out," said Dabrowski. "Five of Illinois' metro areas are in the nation's top 10 for highest property tax rates. Springfield metro area residents pay the 6th-highest property tax rates in the country. As governor, I will focus on enacting the structural reforms that can finally bring property taxes down."

According to ATTOM's 2024 analysis, Illinois' property tax burden is significant on a national scale, with several metro areas ranking high for effective rates. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that Rockford leads these metros, followed by Chicago, Peoria, and Champaign-Urbana. This data supports Dabrowski's assertion that Illinois consistently appears on high-tax lists. The concentration of such high-rate metros within one state highlights a statewide issue affecting homeowners beyond just the Chicago area.

ATTOM’s 2024 U.S. Property Tax Analysis (updated July 2025) indicates that average single-family home tax bills increased by 6% to approximately $4,300. The highest effective rates are concentrated in the Midwest and Northeast. This report provides detailed state and metro breakouts used by media outlets to illustrate Illinois' position at or near the top for effective property tax rates, aligning with Dabrowski's argument about the state's tax burden.

Census "Vintage 2024" estimates reveal that U.S. population growth is largely driven by international migration. Within this context, Illinois experienced net domestic out-migration in 2024, losing 56,235 residents to other states—a decrease from 141,656 in 2023 but still significant enough to impact the tax base. This trend of domestic out-migration combined with immigration-driven gains sheds light on affordability concerns raised by candidates like Dabrowski when discussing property taxes' influence on household decisions.

Dabrowski previously served as president of Wirepoints, an organization focused on Illinois’ finances and public policy. A first-generation American born in Chicago, he also held positions as vice president of policy and spokesman for the Illinois Policy Institute and spent 16 years with Citibank internationally. He holds an MBA in finance from the Wharton School, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech.