Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, a House Representative from Illinois, has expressed his belief that property taxes represent government overreach and should be abolished. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Property taxes are a mechanism for Big Government to pass their malfeasance onto local taxpayers and they need to be abolished," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "Free American citizens should never be forced to rent THEIR property from the government."

Debates surrounding property tax reform are gaining momentum across the United States. Lawmakers in states such as North Dakota, Nebraska, and Texas are pushing for proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes. According to Governing, these initiatives are often described as a "new property tax revolt," reflecting homeowners' frustration with increasing bills and concerns over school funding and local services that heavily depend on this revenue.

Illinois is among the states facing some of the highest property tax burdens in the nation. The Illinois Policy Institute reports that based on data from the Tax Foundation and AARP, Illinois had an average property tax rate of 1.95% in 2025, ranking second-highest nationally. The average homeowner in Illinois pays $6,285 annually compared to the U.S. average of $2,969. This heavy reliance on property taxes has become a contentious issue in state politics.

Property taxes contribute nearly 39% of local government revenue in Illinois, significantly higher than the national average of about 30%. As noted by the Cook County Treasurer using data from the Lincoln Institute, reliance on property taxes varies widely across states due to differences in property values, spending priorities, and local tax systems. These disparities have fueled calls for reform in both high-tax and low-tax states.

Wilhour is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives who has represented the 110th District since January 2019. According to Ballotpedia and the Illinois General Assembly, he is also a farmer, business owner, and veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard who previously served on the Fayette County Board. Wilhour has been vocal about tax reform, advocating for reducing Illinois’ high property taxes and opposing tax increases.