Want a reason for the exodus from Illinois?

This is a very informative opinion column on Illinois taxes from the Chicago Tribune's Kristen McQueary.

"The typical retort when taxpayers gripe about taxation is to point out the services rendered in exchange. Public schools, public safety, park districts and libraries largely are funded through local property taxes. So quit your whining.

But that isn’t the whole story in Illinois, Chicago or Cook County, where property tax hikes levied and collected increasingly are being swallowed up by pension costs for retired workers, health care costs for active workers and debts accumulated to patch up unbalanced budgets. Property owners and income tax payers are getting the same or fewer services while their tax bills climb and their property values remain stagnant."

"Acquiring debt is too cavalier a process in most government spending bills. The state’s $45 billion capital spending plan, approved last spring, includes money toward a highway interchange for a Peotone airport, pickleball courts, dog parks and bike paths. Meanwhile the state is sitting on a pile of $5.8 billion in bills it cannot pay, and its combined unfunded pension liability climbed recently to $137 billion."

Welcome to Indiana, Missouri and Iowa Illinois folks.

Comments

[Ron]

A lot of the services could be provide, with the same quality of service or better using private entities. This would save tax dollars resulting in lower taxes. Collinsville's property taxes are used 100% to pay pension costs. Collinsville continues to lose population and the number of vacant homes and apartments continues to increase.