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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

O'Fallon, Troy registered voter signatures sought for property tax freeze petition

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A group interested in saving taxpayers money is looking for at least 1,250 registered voters in O’Fallon and Troy willing to sign a petition supporting property tax freeze, a spokesman for the group said during a recent interview.

"That may not sound like a lot of signatures but it's no small feat," said Americans for Prosperity Foundation Illinois deputy state director Andrew E. Nelms. 

The pressure also is high because Americans for Prosperity Illinois has a fast-approaching Aug. 8 deadline to get enough signatures turned in to election officials in time to get the nonbinding advisory referendum on the November ballot.

This petition is far from the first time the foundation has pushed for a property tax freeze. During the most recent legislative session, the foundation strongly supported a property tax bill that failed to gain traction.

A property tax cut referendum will be on the ballot in Madison County in November following a petition drive earlier this year headed by Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler.

Nelms said the response to the petition drive has been positive.

"People are tired of their property taxes continuing to go up, especially when their homes are going down in value," he said. 

However, it's more than tax fatigue, people also are frustrated, Nelms said.

"People are frustrated," he said. "They've had to make cuts in their homes and their lives but they don't see government making cuts."

Although this petition for an advisory referendum is only for O’Fallon and Troy voters, Americans for Prosperity Foundation Illinois supports a property tax freeze throughout the state.

This is only part of our overall effort to freeze property taxes," Nelms said. "Anyone outside of these communities who are interested in a property tax freeze, we're going to be interested in talking to them."

Volunteers have been busy getting the word out about the O’Fallon and Troy petition while progress is being reported on Twitter #FreedomInAction.

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