State Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, with nearly 30 years in elective office, and Republican Kate McGrath of Deerfield, a longtime independent insurance agent, are competing to represent Illinois’ 29th State Senate District with different ideas about how to make life more affordable.
Tying high property taxes to the rising cost of living, McGrath said she would start with the state’s budget, which has increased by nearly $20 billion in the past seven years. Spending significantly less means less taxes for people to pay.
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“I would take a look at where every penny is going,” McGrath said. “Enrollment in schools is going down, and expenses are going up. I would look and see where the dollars are going. The budget needs to be blown up.”
Prioritizing property tax reform, Morrison said the current affordability situation goes beyond property tax changes like expanding exemptions. It is a “systemic issue that requires a comprehensive approach,” she said.
“We can make progress by expanding existing programs that have demonstrated promising results, improving the efficiency of government services, and exploring new solutions that help families manage rising costs,” Morrison said.
Voters will decide whether to send Morrison back to Springfield for another term or give the job to McGrath when they cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 general election by mail, voting early or on election day.
First elected to the state Senate in 2012, Morrison, 69, spent 15 years as the West Deerfield Township supervisor before going to Springfield. She is the majority whip in the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Making her first run for public office, McGrath, 51, said she was considering a move to another state when representatives of the Republican Senate Victory Fund approached her about running for the 29th District seat. She announced her candidacy in July of last year.
For McGrath, a stronger business climate and keeping companies in Illinois are ingredients to dealing with the affordability issue in the state. Motivating companies to expand creates a healthier economy.
“When a business shuts down, it is not good for our state,” McGrath said. “Every time a business leaves, individuals go on Medicaid or welfare. This is a problem. New businesses bring in hundreds of people who become taxpayers.”
Morrison said finding ways to help individuals and families make their lives more affordable is within the state’s purview. When an initiative like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) works, expand it. It became law in July. It can be done for groceries too, she said.
“Build on pilot programs that improve grocery access in food deserts and explore ways to attract more affordable food retailers to underserved communities,” Morrison said. “Ensure eligible residents can access and maintain their SNAP benefits so families can afford nutritious food.”
Using specific tools available to the legislature, Morrison said there are a number of ways to provide property tax relief. They include grants to school districts that explore consolidation. Less school expense means fewer property taxes. She has a new idea to help homeowners.
“I’m interested in exploring property-tax ‘circuit breaker’ proposals that would provide assistance to income-qualified homeowners facing significant increases in their property taxes,” Morrison said. “Addressing the underlying drivers of property taxes while providing targeted relief to those who need it most, we can make homeownership more affordable.”
With property taxes higher in Illinois than in most states, McGrath said she would look at why the taxes are lower there and try to enact legislation in Springfield to make the amount of money homeowners pay less.
Since property taxes are rising not because real estate values are climbing but because schools, park districts and other taxing bodies need additional revenue, McGrath said consolidating layers of government may be a possibility.
McGrath said the state SAFE-T Act enacted in 2021 is a “disaster” with its elimination of cash bail. She cited incidents where a person was arrested, released without bail, and committed a more serious crime while awaiting trial on the first.
“Getting rid of cash bail was too much,” McGrath said. “The same people are committing crimes over and over again.”
Artificial intelligence is an issue of concern for Morrison. She said it is “evolving at an extraordinary pace,” and the federal government is not acting quickly enough. Illinois needs to take steps on its own.
Early voting began Sept. 24 at the Lake County Courthouse & Administrative Building and expanded to 18 locations throughout the county on Oct. 19. A list of the early voting polling places, some open weekends, can be found on the Lake County Clerk’s website.
The 29th District consists of 15 municipalities bordered by Naval Station Great Lakes to the north, Wilmette to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, and Buffalo Grove and Des Plaines to the west.