PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — More Central Illinois senior citizens will be able to stay in their forever homes, as a state bill giving property tax relief awaits a signature from the Governor.
In a WMBD news special report, we found elderly residents were being priced out of their homes due to high prices and property taxes.
Gary Millen is a Peoria resident who’s retired. He said he’s one of the lucky ones, who can still support himself through his retirement fund.
“I visit people every day who are living in retirement communities who couldn’t afford to stay in their home anymore,” he said. “A lot of people can’t afford to even subscribe to the newspaper.”
A state bill covered in that story would expand the Homestead program. This program allows seniors in Illinois to freeze their property tax rate. However, that exemption only applies to people who earned $65,000 or less a year.
The proposal would increase the exemption to $75,000 this year, then next year it will go up to $76,000, increasing year by year until 2029, when the number will settle at $79,000. That plan received unanimous support from both chambers.
In the special report, Central Illinois Agency on Aging Executive Director Tessa Mahoney said the state needs to change its policies to keep elderly residents in their homes. Fast-forward to Monday, she celebrated the bill’s passing.
"We think this is excellent news," she said. "There’s a lot of uncertainty right now with different programs and funding. So having something that feels like a win is certainly giving us hope."
Mahoney said she was pleased to hear support for senior citizens was unanimous in Springfield.
"It sounds like we’re working together," she said. "We’re all on the right page and we’re on the right track. Everyone agrees that aging in place, taking care of our older adults is the right way to go. It not only helps our economy, but it helps people’s quality of life."
Now the Central Illinois Aging Agency is looking to the future for what lawmakers could do to support their elderly constituents.
This could include more funding for scam education programs, home delivery meals, and more support for Illinois caregivers, who help senior citizens live in their homes.
"How do we prevent caregiver burnout and stress and recognize that this person is part of their system and we have to take care of the caregiver so that the older adult can age in place," she said. "The support system is important."
Lawmakers return to Springfield in January.
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November 3, 2025 at 09:13PM
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