Property tax freeze is wrong approach

Like most, I would love to see my property tax burden reduced. A property tax freeze as proposed by Bruce Rauner is not a thoughtful answer.

Rauner's camp would have you believe that mismanagement by Gov. Quinn and other "career politicians" is at the root of our property tax problems.

None of my property taxes go to the state of Illinois. Not one penny. Most of the tax bill (71 percent) goes to local education efforts and related pension taxes. Rauner's proposal solves nothing at the state level and creates problems for various local districts.

These local districts are managed by people that we elect from among our friends and neighbors. These are not the "career politicians" Mr. Rauner complains about.

The real problem is the system. Illinois has lots and lots of local government. In Lake County alone, there are 45 separate school districts. Layer on top of that all the other unique governments (park, library, township, county, forest preserves, etc.) and you realize the potential for efficiencies. There are more than 8,000 units of government (taxing bodies) in Illinois - more than any other state.

Most of these are supported by local property taxes. While it is important for Illinois voters to understand how Mr. Rauner will freeze taxes, it is far more important that they understand how that will impact their local schools and services.

I am not making an argument for the status quo. Clearly, changes must be made. I want to see the candidates for office offer thoughtful, specific solutions to the fiscal issues of our state.

I want to see a proposal for a reorganization of government in Illinois. Sadly, neither candidate has delivered so far.

Rauner offends me more because his relentless advertising offers nothing more than pixie dust solutions to a deeply flawed system.

Andrew T. Rieder

Hawthorn Woods