Casey Chlebek calls for statewide advisory referendum on abolishing property taxes

PARK RIDGE – Casey Chlebek, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, urged the Illinois General Assembly on Sept. 2 to place a statewide advisory referendum on the 2026 ballot, giving voters a direct say in Illinois’s property tax crisis.

Only the legislature and governor can put a statewide advisory referendum before voters. While not binding — because local governments control property taxes under the Constitution — it would send an unmistakable message: Illinoisans demand relief.

As of 2023, homeowners here face the highest effective property tax rate in the nation. For many families, the bills are not just burdensome; they’re forcing people from their homes and draining lifetime equity.

Since 2019, more than 1,000 Cook County residents — including 125 seniors — have lost homes worth $108 million for just $2.3 million in tax debts, a practice the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2023 as unconstitutional “home equity theft.” Illinois has yet to fix its laws.

“Homeownership should mean freedom — not perpetual rent to the government,” Chlebek said. “But in Illinois, families are being robbed of their homes and their life savings over tax debts smaller than the cost of a used car. That is legalized theft, plain and simple. The referendum is step one — a mandate from the people — and after that, Springfield will have no excuse. They must act.”

Proposed Referendum Question:
“Shall the State of Illinois pursue the abolition of property taxes on primary residences and replace them with alternative funding for schools, police, fire, and local services?”

The Human Cost: Home Equity Theft in Illinois

Across Illinois, homeowners are not only burdened by high taxes — many are losing their homes and all their equity over minor tax debts. 

In May 2022, 37,000 Cook County properties were slated for delinquent tax sale. More than half owed less than $1,000. In Illinois, 70% of homes seized in tax foreclosures were taken over for debts smaller than the value of a 10-year-old Chevy Impala. Investors pocketed an additional $148 million more than what was owed.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this practice unconstitutional in 2023 (Tyler v. Hennepin County), yet Illinois has failed to reform its laws. More than a dozen other states have already acted to protect homeowners, but Springfield has stalled.

“This isn’t just bad policy — it’s legalized theft,” Chlebek said. “Illinoisans are paying the nation’s highest property taxes, and when they fall behind, their homes are being taken for pennies on the dollar. That is unconscionable. Lawmakers in Springfield have had every chance to fix this broken system. The referendum will give voters a chance to demand action.”

Chlebek’s Federal Plan Ensures Services Stay Protected

Chlebek emphasized that, if elected to the US Senate, his Property Tax Freedom Plan ensures essential services remain fully funded while families get relief:

• Schools, police, fire, and roads would be protected through replacement revenue.
• Families, especially seniors and veterans, would see immediate relief.
• Communities keep control — not Washington.

“You can pay off your mortgage and still lose your home and your equity if you fall behind on taxes. That’s not ownership — that’s bondage,” Chlebek said. “I am the only candidate with a clear plan to end this injustice. Now I’m demanding voters have the chance to say so directly in 2026.”

Casey Chlebek, a business leader, public policy advocate, and proud Polish-American, has officially declared intention to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Illinois. With a vision to put power back into the hands of hardworking families, Chlebek is launching a sweeping reform domestic platform known as the MAGNA Agenda—Make America the Greatest Nation Again.  The Property Tax Freedom Plan is the first of seven pillars in his MAGNA Agenda to reduce taxes, reward work and restore opportunity.