Local government lobbyists paid by your tax dollars are fighting hard to kill a bill aimed at limiting property tax increases in a declining housing market.

Interest groups representing municipal, county, school and township governments have been urging members to contact their legislators to oppose House Bill 3793, which forbids governments under the tax cap from collecting more in property taxes in years that their total assessment decreases.

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he filed the bill after the first installment of McHenry County property taxes came due in June, in response to constituent outrage over increasing property tax bills despite plummeting home values.