Betty D.: I feel like everybody is struggling and it needs to change on where the taxes are going.

Betty D. owns a 1,056 square foot, Brookfield home that is currently assessed at $222,320.

“I feel like everybody is struggling and it needs to change on where the taxes are going,” Betty said.

Betty took possession of the home in 2000 when it was worth around $110,000, or $161,068 in today’s dollars. She has paid $54,394 in property taxes since 2006, more than 49 percent of the original value of her home.

“It’s a lot of money,” Betty said. “Every time are property taxes go up our mortgage goes up. “

“It’s a lot of money,” Betty said. “Every time are property taxes go up our mortgage goes up. “

Betty is currently paying $6,582 per year in property taxes on her home, about 2.9 percent of the Cook County Assessor claimed value of $222,320.

“If this is not going to improve, my husband and I have thought about leaving once our daughter graduates,” Betty said. “There’s no reason for us to stay here.”

Indiana has a hard 1 percent cap on property taxes. This means local governments are not allowed under state law to charge homeowner’s more than 1 percent of their home’s assessed value per year. The average property tax rate for the state of Indiana is 0.89 percent. Meanwhile, the average property tax rate in Illinois is 2.3 percent.

“I would welcome the 1 percent [cap on taxes], but I feel like that is unattainable since we have a lot more entertainment-wise and things like that versus what Indiana has,” Betty said. “But, I would be happy if my taxes were lowered.”

If Betty lived in Indiana the most she could be charged in property taxes would be $2,223 per year or $4,359 less than what she currently pays in Illinois.

“Our taxes are going to the people operating our government,” Betty said. “I have to budget my household income, but I feel like they’re not budgeting. I can’t keep on going and not making enough money while spending extravagantly and I feel like that’s what the government is doing.”

To share your story with us, please send an email including your full name, address, phone number and email address to news@saveyourhomenow.org.