SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Suburban Chicago mayors are stepping into the statewide debate over freezing local property taxes.
The proposal is a key element of Gov. Bruce Rauner's agenda. The Republican has insisted on the freeze before agreeing to a state budget.
Leaders representing more than 150 cities and villages surrounding Chicago say a freeze would handicap local government and do nothing to address Illinois' budget problems.
They also say preventing local governments from levying taxes at higher rates would result in the reduction of essential services, such as police and fire safety. They also say it fails to address what's behind high property taxes: the state's meager contributions to funding public schools.
Their stance comes the same week 400 school superintendents signed a petition asking Rauner and lawmakers end their two-year budget stalemate.
