Murphy announces program to provide tax relief to families of fallen heroes

• Constituent Service
• Property tax
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SPRINGFIELD – The Cook County Board of Review is offering a property tax abatement for the surviving spouses of Cook County’s fallen heroes, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced Monday.

“It’s our responsibility to honor the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform by taking care of the families they leave behind,” said Murphy. “This program is one way we can offer a little help to them during an extremely difficult time.”

Surviving spouses of police officers, soldiers and rescue workers who have died in service are eligible to receive up to a full abatement of their property taxes on qualifying properties for the rest of their lives.

Qualifying properties are homes occupied by not more than two families, used as the principal residence by a surviving spouse and were:
•    owned by the fallen police officer, soldier, or rescue worker or surviving spouse at the time of the death;
•    acquired by the surviving spouse within two years after the death if the surviving spouse lived in Illinois at the time of that death; or
•    acquired more than two years after the death if the surviving spouse qualified for an abatement for previous property located in Cook County.

More information about the application process can be found on the Cook County Board of Review website.

Applications open for construction trades readiness program

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SPRINGFIELD – People interested in a career in construction can receive training and other assistance through HIRE360, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced Friday.

“This program is a great opportunity for people to get the help they need to start on the path to a well-paying, lifelong career,” said Murphy. “If you’re looking to enter the union workforce, this is a great way to get your foot in the door.”

Chicago developers, general contractors, local labor unions and the United Way of Metro Chicago partnered to create HIRE360, a program that empowers underrepresented individuals to pursue union careers.

The program offers test preparation, funds to buy needed supplies for apprenticeships, job referrals and more assistance to those interested in union construction careers.

Although HIRE360 currently only offers job services in the construction industry, the program plans to expand to other unionized fields, like manufacturing and hospitality sectors, in the coming months.

“Unemployment in Illinois is at a record low, and businesses are looking for workers,” said Murphy. “Going through a career training program like this would put you ahead of the pack.”

Interested candidates can sign up for construction trades readiness training with HIRE360 here.

Murphy: Restoring trust in government is “top priority”

• Transparency
• Ethics

SPRINGFIELD – In response to news that former state senator Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement:

“I’m disappointed and disgusted by the few bad actors whose behavior has reflected poorly on our entire state government. It’s about time that justice is served, and I applaud the federal government for ensuring that responsible parties are held accountable.

“Moving forward, our top priority must be to restore the public’s trust in their government. I am committed to advancing reforms that change the culture in Springfield, discourage the wrong people from getting into public service and ensure that elected officials serve their electorate—not their pocketbooks.”

Murphy voices support for governor’s call to reform property tax system

SPRINGFIELD – In response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State address, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement:

“I stand with Gov. Pritzker in his efforts to reform the backward property tax system in Illinois and reduce taxes on low- and middle-income earners in the state.

“The property taxes in Illinois place an undue burden on our working families—that’s something everyone can agree on, no matter their politics.

“These families are beginning to leave Illinois to escape the excessive cost, and they’re taking jobs and talent with them. It’s imperative that we relieve those economic pressures and define a path toward long-term property tax relief. Consolidating police and firefighter pensions was a good start, but we still have a long way to go toward supporting local governments and reducing the burden on taxpayers.

“As a member of the bipartisan Property Tax Relief Task Force, I look forward to working with the governor and my fellow lawmakers to implement a fairer tax system, keep people in the state, and lend a hand to Illinois workers and their families.”