Former Illinois governor launches campaign for property tax relief amendment

SPRINGFIELD (25News Now) - Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn launched a campaign on Wednesday to pass a state constitutional amendment aimed at property tax relief.

The amendment would add a 3% income tax surcharge on millionaires. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, that would generate $4.5 billion each year.

Quinn said around three million Illinois households pay more than $23 million total in residential property taxes every year.

“High property taxes are making it unaffordable for people to stay in their homes. That’s why it’s so important to have a property tax relief constitutional amendment on the ballot next year,” he said.

The former governor hopes to get this amendment to lawmakers in Springfield by May. It then needs a three-fifths vote of approval from members of the state House and Senate.

The measure could be on the ballot in November 2026.

Quinn has been working on this same issue for a decade, even with two advisory questions approving it, most recently in November of last year.

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