Kane County Board Dist. 4 candidates debate tax freeze

Kane County's property tax freeze has been good thing, but it's time to end it, according to District 4 county board Democratic candidate Angela Clay Thomas.

Her Republican opponent, John Kopp, disagrees, saying he supports continuing the freeze for now, saying it would keep money in taxpayers' pockets.

"The fact that we are facing a budget deficit indicates we let the freeze go on too long," Thomas said.

County departments have requested $5.6 million more in spending than income projected for the 2017 budget.

"I applaud the board and the chairman for keeping the levy frozen for the last years," Kopp said. The county can look elsewhere for money, he said. Kopp cited as an example an effort by Chairman Chris Lauzen to see if the county could make money from a waste-to-fuel utility.

Thomas agrees with looking for revenue elsewhere. And the county board should revisit the idea of having a strategic plan, to prioritize the services it is required to provide versus others, she said. "You are not going to address the funding gap simply by increasing the levy," she said.

Kopp said the freeze, "while very beneficial to the taxpayer, cannot be sustained indefinitely."

The county has, for the last five years, requested about $53.9 million each year in property taxes.

It could, under the state tax cap law, ask for an increase of 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. And the first year new construction is on the tax rolls, the cap does not apply, so it could ask for even more to capture as many dollars as allowed. Most taxing districts in the county usually do that.

Thomas, 45, works as a development and communications consultant for nonprofits.

Kopp, 33, is a criminal defense attorney.

The winner will replace Brian Pollock. Thomas beat Pollock in the primary. No one ran in the Republican primary. Kopp was slated in May.