Rauner nixes debt collectors going after delinquent taxes

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday vetoed a bill that he said would have allowed Cook County and Chicago to use outside debt collectors to go after residents delinquent on certain taxes.

In his veto, Rauner said using a private debt collector would “penalize property owners who are already facing skyrocketing property taxes.”

“Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the country, and those taxes continue to rise. Many property owners struggle to make tax payments. The current tax sale process provides both counties and taxpayers with a system through which to address unpaid or delinquent taxes,” Rauner said in his veto.

“Referring unpaid tax bills to private debt collectors would penalize property owners who are already facing skyrocketing property taxes. First and foremost, we need to make property taxes more affordable.”

Read more: http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/rauner-nixes-debt-collectors-going-after-delinquent-taxes/