As property taxes continue to skyrocket, state Rep. Silvana Tabares, D-Chicago, is backing legislation that would freeze property taxes for two years. “When I walk door-to-door and speak to families in my district the message is clear: we must put a cap on skyrocketing property taxes,” Tabares said. “My legislation would give homeowners peace of mind by knowing their property tax bill would not go up for the next two years.” Tabares’ Senate Bill 851 would provide true property tax relief for Illinois homeowners by freezing property taxes for two years, only exempting the most financial distressed school districts. Earlier this year, she helped pass legislation increasing both the general homestead and senior citizens homestead exemptions to $10,000 and $8,000, respectfully. Tabares is also fighting to prevent a new tax on retirement income, and is backing efforts to permanently ban the beverage tax that was recently rolled-back in Cook County. Along with advocating for lower taxes on the middle-class, Tabares worked with Democrats and Republicans to pass historic education funding reform that guarantees area schools will receive over $300 million in additional state funding. “I am proud Democrats and Republicans were able to set partisanship aside and do what was right for our children and fix our broken funding formula,” Tabares said. “Our education funding reform plan guarantees that every child, regardless of their zip code, will have access to a high-quality education and that students in low-income districts will have the same opportunities as those in wealthier suburbs.”