Lake County Gazette

Former Republican state Rep. David McSweeney is balking at Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tax policies.

“Businesses are suffering and families are being forced out of Illinois because of endless tax hikes,” McSweeney posted on Facebook of the 24 new tax and fee increases, according to Illinois Policy, that have been enacted in the three years that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been in power.

“Illinois families need a tax cut,” added McSweeney, now Chairman of Cut Illinois Taxes Now. “I’m fighting for the tax relief that we all need.”

McSweeney points to the Tax Foundation recently reporting that Illinois is now home to the highest wireless taxes in the country as just more of the same. Illinois now charges 34.56 percent in state and local rates combined, well over the national average of 23.94%, according to The Center Square.

Tax Policy Senior Policy analyst Ulrik Boeson explained the discrepancy.

"Illinois has an additional state telecommunications tax on top of the federal taxes, on top of the 911 fee," he said. "This is how Illinois gets to have such a high rate."

Illinois Policy also recently reported local shoppers were forced to pay higher taxes depending on the type of candy they choose for trick-or-treaters, in some cases at least six times higher taxes for some brands. In Illinois, treats prepared with flour don’t count as “candy,” meaning that Halloween favorites with flour like Kit Kats, Twizzlers and Twix aren’t recognized as candy but rather considered food. Candy sales across the state are taxed at 6.25%, while delectable made with flour are taxed at 1%.

In all, sales taxes in Illinois are expected to generate upwards of $7 billion for the state, serving as its second highest revenue source behind only income tax. Analysts add the $5.24 billion taxpayers have paid for the new or increased taxes and fees since Pritzker took over three years ago would be at least $3 billion more if he had gotten his way on a progressive tax proposal that voters roundly rejected last November.

Through it all, the governor has justified the increases as added steps toward balancing state budgets and funding his $45 billion infrastructure plan, although the state’s latest $42.3 billion budget represents the 21st straight year lawmakers in Springfield have failed to balance the state budget.

This year’s state budget is pegged to be in the neighborhood of $482 million underfunded, despite including $655 million worth of new taxes and fees and the state receiving $8.1 billion in federal aid, according to Illinois Policy.

Prior to this year’s new taxes being enacted, the average Illinoisan already faced the highest total state and local tax burden in the nation and as of 2019 the Tax Foundation reported the state had 10th highest tax burden in the country, with over 11% of Illinoisans’ income going to state and local taxes.