Economy & Tax Reform
Working families across Illinois and the U.S. have been squeezed by a rapidly rising cost of living. Nabeela Syed is fighting to make sure families can afford housing, healthcare, and groceries and that finances don’t get in the way of allowing families to thrive. Representative Syed works to ease the financial burden on working families, support job growth and protect workers’ rights.
Illinois has the 8th most regressive tax system in the country. That means working and middle class families pay a larger share of their income in state and local taxes. It is a system that is squeezing the middle class, and it needs to change.
Property taxes are also way too high. No one should have to choose between staying in the home they've lived in for decades and keeping up with a tax bill that climbs every year.
This is a crisis across Illinois. Although the state doesn't levy property taxes or receive revenue from property taxes, it is critical we take action to alleviate this burden. What's at stake is who gets to live in our communities. Seniors who built these communities should be able to stay in them. Young families should be able to buy a home and afford to keep it. People who have invested in our neighborhoods and called them home shouldn't be taxed out of them.
Nabeela believes:
We need to fundamentally reform our tax system, starting with the way we fund public education in our state. Illinois relies too heavily on local property taxes to pay for schools, which puts the weight on working class families. Nabeela supports continued and growing investments in the Evidence-Based Funding Formula (EBF), so the state contributes more towards education. People in our communities also need relief now. That is why Nabeela supported legislation to expand eligibility for the senior property tax freeze, so more seniors can age in place with dignity and financial peace of mind.
Small businesses are essential to building a strong, vibrant community. They create jobs, grow wealth locally and serve as hubs for innovation, culture and community. This is why Representative Syed fights for expanded access to capital assistance, tax relief for small business owners, and finding ways to cut red tape that are unnecessarily holding small businesses back.
Responsible fiscal leadership in Springfield is key to the overall success of Illinois. Representative Syed supports passing balanced budgets that protect essential services while keeping the state on a path to long-term financial stability. To do this, she advocates for living within our means while making smart, people-first investments that grow our economy. Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely — which is why she supports rigorous oversight to eliminate waste and duplication and ensure every dollar is used efficiently.
Legislative wins:
Rejected proposals that would increase property taxes on working families
Championed legislation to expand property tax relief for seniors
Supported major investments in education and infrastructure that create good-paying jobs and drive long-term growth
Co-sponsored legislation to cut junk fees and hidden costs, which also requires business to clearly disclose the full costs of goods and services upfront
Advocated for extended tax relief for small businesses
Closed corporate tax loopholes that let big business shift the tax burden onto Illinois families
Fought to protect works’ rights and strengthen collective bargaining to ensure labor remains a cornerstone of our democracy and a fair economy
Representative Syed works every day to ease the financial burden on families, support job growth and protect workers’ rights. She understands that building an Illinois that works for everyone means putting everyday people at the center of decisions in Springfield.