BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says the income tax increase he’s pushing should also require schools to lower local property taxes.
The Chicago Democrat wants to raise income taxes to 4 percent, up from 3 percent now. He wants the added money set aside for schools.
Quinn repeatedly said Wednesday that his plan would lead to lower property taxes. Pressed on that, Quinn said he would seek legislation requiring schools to cut local taxes in order to get more state aid.
This appears to be the first time Quinn has discussed this requirement.
Republican challenger Bill Brady said the idea doesn’t seem to make sense. He called it “smoke and mirrors.”
Calls for a “tax swap” aren’t new, but most work by giving individual taxpayers a credit — not by requiring schools to cut taxes.