South West Illinois News

Michael Phillips doesn’t like paying higher taxes.

Who does?

The 58-year-old retired machinist said he understands the need of government to seek revenue but citizens should expect more in return. 

“Nobody likes paying more for nothing in return, however small,” he told South West Illinois News.

Phillips, who goes by his middle name Scott, grew up in Tamaroa, in far southern Illinois, and still lives there. He worked as a machinist for many years and is currently on Social Security disability.

As a homeowner, he feels it when property taxes are raised, adding, “Don’t kill me all at once and spread it across the board." 

The Illinois Legislature was to consider property tax reform this session. On Aug. 2, 2019, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to create the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force, with the governor appointing members and others named to the panel by both Democratic and Republican members. In the end, it had 88 members.

The task force was mandated to submit a report by the end of 2019 but was unable to complete that assignment. Republicans rejected a draft that was released and shared with the media in January.

Property tax reform was eclipsed by budget issues after the COVID-19 pandemic reduced tax revenue, leaving what Pritzker termed an $8 billion hole in the budget.

The legislature adjourned March 16 over pandemic concerns and only returned to work on May 20. A scheduled three-day special session spilled over into May 23, and even into the early hours of May 24.

In the end, a $40 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 was passed and business owners and homeowners were given a 120-day extension, without interest or penalties, to pay their property tax. Disabled people and seniors were given an automatic extension from 2019 without having to file for it.

Phillips said the elected officials are in a challenging situation.

“I don’t like [Pritzker] defending his wife going on trips while he’s asking us to stay home but all politicians are like that: hypocrites," Phillips said. "We need less politicians and more regular people in office.”

Phillips has never sought political office but he said he has considered it lately and wonders why some people in office are there.

“You can’t tell me a billionaire needs a political office for a paycheck — got to be a reason to want that office so bad,” Phillips said.