Most Local Tax Increases on Ballot Lose Tuesday
by Wesley Fox While many experts are trying to interpret the results of the election in Illinois, they might have an easier time determining the people’s views on taxes. In this year’s election there were dozens of referenda on the ballot asking voters if they support or oppose local sales and/or property tax increases. Of the...
by Wesley Fox
While many experts are trying to interpret the results of the election in Illinois, they might have an easier time determining the people’s views on taxes.
In this year’s election there were dozens of referenda on the ballot asking voters if they support or oppose local sales and/or property tax increases. Of the 36 tax increase referenda, only 17 passed. The levies were proposed to fund school facilities, municipal services, roadway construction, and other local government operations.
When given a choice between lower taxes and more spending, voters more often than not supported lower taxes.
Below are the unofficial results of tax increase referenda that were on the ballot (UPDATED 11/9):
| County | Taxing Entity | Tax Increase Type | Result |
| Boone | Village of Cherry Valley | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Boone | Garden Prairie Street Light Dist. | Property Tax | Passed |
| Champaign | Village of Ogden | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Champaign | City of Champaign Township | Property Tax | Passed |
| Champaign | Condit Township | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Champaign | Village of Fisher | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Champaign | Pesotum Township | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Cook | Village of River Forest | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Cook | Village of Hinsdale | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Cook | Village of Riverdale | Real Estate Transfer Tax | Defeated |
| Cook | Ford Heights Library Dist. | Property Tax | Passed |
| Cook | Maywood Public Library Dist. | Property Tax | Passed |
| DuPage | Village Park | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| DuPage | Hinsdale | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Grundy | Dwight School Dist. 232 | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Iroquois | Iroquois County | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Kane | Village of Sleepy Hollow | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Kane | St. Charles Library | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Knox | Knox County | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Lake | Village of Lake Zurich | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Lake | McHenry Com. High School Dist. | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Lake | Milburn C.C. School Dist. 24 | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Lake/Cook | Village of Deer Park | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Macon | Macon County | Sales Tax | Passed |
| McHenry | McHenry High School Dist. 156 | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Montgomery | Montgomery County | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Montgomery | Village of Farmersville | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Ogle | City of Byron | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Ogle | Oregon Library Dist. | Property Tax | Defeated |
| Rock Island | Village of Hampton | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Sangamon | Sangamon County | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Warren | Monmouth-Roseville School Dist. | Sales Tax | Defeated |
| Will | Lockport | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Will | Village of Shorewood | Sales Tax | Passed |
| Winnebago | Cherry Village | Sales TAx | Passed |
| Winnebago | Winnebago Village | Property Tax | Defeated |