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A new study of states with the highest & lowest tax rates by John S. Kiernan, Managing Editor, Wallethub, showed that of the 50 states and Dist. of Colombia, Illinois was dead last, coming in as number 51 (highest number best). Using their formula, they found that Illinois had the highest tax rates in the country.

According to the study, every year the average U.S. household pays over $8,800 in federal income taxes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that there is a significant difference when it comes to state and local taxes. Taxpayers in the most tax-expensive states, for instance, pay three times more than those in the cheapest states.

WalletHub searched for answers by comparing state and local tax rates in the 50 states and District of Columbia against national medians. They calculated relative income-tax obligations by applying the effective income-tax rates in each state and locality to the average American’s income.

“Every year Illinois politicians and their buddies in the media declare that Illinois is a ‘low tax state.’ Study after study proves they are wrong,” said Jim Tobin, economist and president of Taxpayers United of Illinois (TUA).

“Fortunately, Illinois taxpayers have caught on to the lies and have declared war on the tax-and-spend politicians. TUA worked with leaders of local taxpayer groups, and the last attempt to raise taxes by Ill. Gov. Jay Robert ‘J. B.’ Pritzker and his democrat accomplices in the general assembly was crushed at the polls.”

“I should add that Pritzker’s approval rating has dropped from 48% to 40%, and that he has not announced whether or not he will run for governor again.”

Source: States with the Highest & Lowest Tax Rates (wallethub.com)

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Warren TWP HSD 121 (WTHS) wants to raise taxes during a pandemic! The school district has placed on the April 6^th ballot a referendum to increase the limiting rate on property taxes, effectively raising property taxes by $7.6 million!

“Illinois is still locked down, schools aren’t even fully open, yet the career tax-raisers at WTHS want taxpayers to fork over another $7.6 million,” said Jim Tobin, economist and president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “This is really hitting the taxpayers when they’re down.”

“All of the top 15 annual salaries in WTHS are greater than $136,000, and, when they retire, these teachers will collect millions from the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). And these ‘poor civil servants’ still aren’t back in the classroom. It’s unconscionable that government school administrators would expect taxpayers to subsidize these overpaid teachers with more of their hard-earned money.”

Lake County, IL ranks 18^th out of 3,143 counties for property taxes as a percentage of annual income–6.76%. Lake County’s average annual property tax of $6,285 is the highest of all Illinois counties.

“WTHS needs to sell the 100-acre parcel that they purchased in 2008 for $8 million. Proceeds from the sale would go a long way to protect the programs that the government school bureaucrats are threatening to drop if the referendum fails. They have threatened to risk students’ ability to qualify for colleges, scholarships, and succeed in life.”

“Do your jobs and get the kids back in school and do it with the revenue you have,” said Tobin. “Raising taxes just pushes more people out of the state, decreasing revenue.” “We urge everyone in District 121 to show up and VOTE NO on April 6^th. Tell the tax-raisers to balance their budgets without another money grab.”

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For years, substandard Illinois government schools have failed students. In 2017, a program was set up to help low-income students escape these schools. The “Invest in Kids Act,” gave parents and their disadvantaged children school choice. The students were given a scholarship paid by donors who received a tax credit. A 75-cent tax credit was given for every dollar donated. The neediest students were prioritized for acceptance. This program was to last until January 1, 2024 before being restarted, but Governor Pritzker decided to kowtow to the teacher unions and dismantle the program. He called this a business “tax loophole.” 

It is not a business tax loophole, as it allows underprivileged families to choose whatever school is best for their children. Many of these private schools have been open since August despite the general pandemic lockdown, and no coronavirus casualties have been recorded. In-person learning should be expanded not limited, but this seems to be too much “choice” for the governor and those in education who are trying to keep the children of Illinois hostage. 

By limiting scholarships, the governor will then redirect several million dollars to lower achieving government schools. Even 3 years ago, Pritzker stated at a news conference at the Illinois Education Association’s Professional Development Center in Springfield: “I’m opposed to that $75 million tax credit, that school voucher system that [Rauner] created, and we should as soon as possible do away with it.”

The $75 million in tax credits has yielded $100 million in private school scholarships for low-income Illinois students. Under Pritzker’s 2020 budget, eliminating $25 million of the tax credits (worth $37.5 million in scholarships) for needy families and students allows more millions to go to inferior government schools. The governor’s children attend private schools. If government schools are so good, why do 40 percent of Chicago teachers send their own children to private schools? When it comes to their own children, Chicago teachers know what to do.