Deb Conroy

Property taxes are foremost on the minds of voters in the 46^th state House District, according to the two women seeking the state House seat.

Both Democratic incumbent Deb Conroy and Republican Heidi Holan say that rising property taxes  need to be addressed.

Conroy said increasing tax bills, coupled with depreciated home values, are causing strife for many homeowners.
“Any homeowner looking to sell knows all too well that home values are down,” Conroy said. “Yet, their property taxes continue to skyrocket. I support legislation to more accurately calculate property tax rates; and I voted to increase the value of property tax exemptions for homeowners and provide relief for seniors.

“Working families cannot afford to pay more; and I am pushing for new legislation to freeze property taxes when home values decline.”

Holan said the state handing down requirements on local taxing bodies without providing the subsequent funding is taking a toll on local budgets.

Heidi Holan

“Communities are struggling to provide local citizens with services because of unfunded mandates,” Holan said. “If laws are going to be passed, then they better provide the funding with them”

She pointed to schools as an example, noting there are 290 unfunded mandates for school systems currently on the state books.

“Maybe we get school superintendents together for ideas on which ones can be eliminated,” Holan said. “Have them give us their top 10 to target.”

The district

The 46^th state House District includes parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.

Money in the race

The two women have more than $1.7 million at their disposal for the House race.

Conroy, as of the last Illinois State Board of Elections filing, had $799,766 in her campaign fund.

Holan, as of the last Illinois State Board of Election filing, had $403,018 in her campaign fund.

Priorities

Holan said finding ways to provide quality education to all children and balance out the school funding equation is a “complex can of worms.”

She said it is difficult for local residents to finance their local schools through property taxes and then see Chicago schools get nearly 50 percent of their funding from the state.

“What is the best school funding formula? In the suburbs, the money comes from property taxes. Residents wind up paying for schools twice because they pay to the state to fund Chicago schools. Which is better? We need to ensure we give all students an effective education.”

Conroy said the state needs to do more to create jobs and establish a stable environment for businesses.

“Creating good-paying jobs is crucial to overall economic development and the revival of the state’s economy,” she said. “I am working to promote DuPage County as a great place to do business and raise a family.

“I support tax cuts to small businesses in our communities to help them expand and targeted tax incentives that reward in-state job creation, not handouts to large corporations that take state tax breaks only to move their jobs out of state.”

Fixing Springfield

Conroy said she is working to reform the way the state budget is crafted so that there is more transparency and respect for taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

“I voted more than 70 times against an irresponsible state budget that relied on extending the state income tax increase and revenues that didn’t exist,” she said. “The state budget should be in line with our expected revenues while helping to pay down our old bills and protecting vital services for senior citizens, veterans and students.”

Holan said things will only change in Springfield by electing individuals who will contradict the status quo.

“If (House Speaker Mike) Madigan wins more seats, there is not going to the opposition which is direly needed to change things,” Holan said. “If Madigan loses seats, it puts the opposition in a better place to discuss things and to get policy changes.”

She said for reformers’ wish list to be addressed, some of the power must be taken away from Madigan.