Pardess Mitchell
“I was born and raised in Illinois. We’ve been living here in Lake County for 16 years, my husband and I.
But our property taxes have gone up $5,000 over the past four years. The property taxes are now more than our mortgage – we’re paying more than $15,000 a year on a home we bought for $227,000.
It’s getting to the point where not only my family but our neighbors have to make a decision: Can we afford to have our kids play football? To do swim club? I put money aside each month for college for my kids and we’re having to dip into that.
They’re taxing us out of the neighborhood. They’re pushing us out. They’re pushing us out of our homes and communities.
If it continues this way we’ll have to leave. We’re in desperate need here to get our local government spending under control, especially in our schools.”
Pardess Mitchell
Ingleside, Illinois
Have a story to share?
Tell us how a state or local policy affects your life.
If we decide to feature your story, one of our writers will reach out to you directly.