Former Champaign County Board member Scott Tapley fears the potential outcome of Illinois’ dwindling home values combined with the state's rising property taxes.
“It’s not a recipe for success,” Tapley told the Chambana Sun. “Things that can’t go on forever usually come to a stop that’s not very pleasant, and that’s what we’re starting to see.”
Recent data from the Federal Finance Housing Agency concludes that over the last decade average home values in Illinois are down by 21 percent while property taxes have climbed by 9 percent after adjusting for inflation. In addition, Illinois Policy Institute reports that the drop in home values across the state is 300 percent worse than the national average.
Former Champaign County Board member Scott Tapley
Given the local government climate, Tapley reasons none of it comes is a great surprise.
“The two biggest costs in Illinois are pensions and corruption," Tapley said. “It’s embedded in everything. “That’s just how Illinois has done business. The only way to stop it is to have people rise up and say they're tired of it.”
With overall population across the state sliding in each of the last five years, the impact is apparent.
“I guess until the politicians take a realistic look at solving the problem, things will probably continue to get worse,” Tapley said. “It’s always possible to correct a course and arrive at a better destination, but not when your solution is to press the gas pedal down and continue in the direction we’re going. The course that we’re on now hasn’t changed since the last election cycle. It’s just resulted in an acceleration of the same negative trends.”
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