Illinois 2022 General Primary Election is on June 28 with early voting beginning May 19. In addition to selecting party nominees who will face off in the November General Election, voters in several communities will decide important ballot questions regarding Home Rule authority and Transfer Taxes. Illinois REALTORS^® Local Governmental Affairs Directors will help direct educational campaigns on these topics, and you and your clients can learn more by going to www.RealPropertyAlliance.org.

Hometown: With a population of just over 4,000, Hometown is seeking Home Rule authority to increase its bonding authority and identify additional sources of tax revenue such as taxes on fuel, and increased fees on video gaming.

Matteson: An aging water and sewer infrastructure has motivated this village of about 19,000 residents to pursue Home Rule authority so it will have additional sources of revenue and ability to borrow.

Minooka: Located on the freight-heavy corridor of Interstate 80, Minooka, with a population around 11,000, wants Home Rule authority to increase its diesel fuel tax which would help the village improve its road and water infrastructure.

Oswego: Voters here will decide if they want to establish a local transfer tax on the sale of real property. Officials have determined that their current aquifer water source is inadequate, so the Home Rule community will ask voters to approve a buyer side tax of $3 per $1,000 on future transfers.

Finally, an interesting situation is occurring in Harvey. The village became Home Rule based on having a population above 25,000. But Harvey’s population, like many other Illinois communities in the most recent census, lost population. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Harvey is now just a few hundred residents shy of the threshold, so the village is asking voters to affirm their desire to remain a Home Rule community.