Kendall County Times

With a new MoneyGeek report ranking Illinois as the least tax-friendly state in the country, state Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) has introduced legislation that he sees as taking aim at what he sees is wasteful spending.    

Wheeler has filed legislation that would require the General Assembly to put forth a revenue estimate by April 30 of each calendar year (House Bill 5244) and a companion bill what would ban Springfield lawmakers from passing any spending bill until that revenue is adopted (HB 5245).   

“Agreeing on a bipartisan revenue estimate is the first and most important step in the budget process,” said Wheeler, who also serves as assistant House Minority Leader. “The revenue estimate also protects taxpayers. By skipping it year after year to pass budgets crafted to fulfill the majority party’s wish list, Illinois continues to spend more than we take in, which leads to calls for new tax increases. We need to stop the vicious cycle that keeps reaching into taxpayers’ pockets to fund the reckless spending habits of JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats.”

As part of its research, MoneyGeek studied the tax costs of all 50 states to measure those with the lowest tax burden, considering sales, income, and property taxes, with Illinois being tagged with an “E” grade as the country’s least tax-friendly state.

“We can and must do better,” Wheeler said. “I have introduced HB 5244 and HB 5245 this year which, if passed, would force the state to stop overspending money we don't have.”

MoneyGeek says Illinois is home to the country’s highest tax burden. Its estimated taxes were pegged at 16.8% or $13,894.

Since Pritzker was sweep into office back in 2018, Illinois Policy Institute reports the governor has imposed 24 tax and fee increases, amounting to at least $5.2 billion in new debt for residents. The list of hikes include doubling the motor fuel tax three years ago, increasing vehicle registration fees by $50, increasing taxes on cigarettes and e-cigarettes and video game consoles.

It's been estimated that spending would have swelled by at least another $3 billion had the governor's proposed progressive state income tax has been accepted by voters.

The governor has sought to justify the increases by pointing to a balanced budget plan that has never materialized and as a step toward funding his $45 billion infrastructure plan. The state’s $42.3 billion spending plan that was passed in early June marks the 21st straight year that lawmakers in Illinois have failed to balance the state budget.

 Wheeler said the General Assembly is required by state law to adopt a revenue estimate, though that hasn’t happened in almost a decade.

“The last time the General Assembly adopted a revenue estimate was in 2014,” he said.