Pexels.com
Pexels.com
In an open letter to the General Assembly, 65 local government officials, including four in Northwest Illinois, asked state legislators to block attempts to scrap the state’s flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax structure.
“We ask that you pledge not to support a constitutional change that would allow for this tax structure, and that you sign on to House Resolution 891 or Senate Resolution 1590 declaring such intentions this year and beyond,” the letter stated.
Local officials who signed the letter include:
– Brandon Behlke, Jo Daviess County Vice Chairman
– Charles Thomas, Lee County Board Member
– John Schultz, Jo Daviess County Board Member
– LaDon Trost, Jo Daviess County Board Member
The letter provides a list of reasons elected officials oppose such a change to the state tax structure, including the burden of a 32 percent tax hike that passed a year ago. Local officials said they oppose a change to the constitution because it would remove roadblocks that keep lawmakers from raising taxes to fix every budget problem.
“There is little trust that lawmakers will set fair tax rates for all citizens of Illinois,” the letter states. “Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, with state spending growing 25 percent faster than personal incomes from 2005 to 2015.”
The letter also points to the impact a change could have on businesses in the state.
“The flat tax is one of the few remaining competitive advantages of Illinois, with surrounding states passing effective workers’ compensation laws, better business policies and lower property taxes,” it stated.
“Our community’s small businesses would be hurt drastically,” it continued. “The National Federation of Independent Business states that pass-through businesses earning income of as little as $225,000 would see a 9.15 percent tax rate, based upon legislation filed in the House.”
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Local officials opposing graduated income tax
| Name | Position |
| Scott Gryder | Kendall County Chairman |
| James Niemann | Effingham County Board Chairman |
| David Campbell | Effingham County Vice Chairman |
| Don Munson | Douglas County Board Chairman |
| Jefferey Beckman | Fayette County Board Chairman |
| Emily Davenport | Logan County Board Vice Chairman |
| Brandon Behlke | Jo Daviess County Vice Chairman |
| Steve Weber | Will County Treasurer |
| Glenda L. Miller | McHenry County Treasurer |
| Curtis P. Newport | Boone County Board Treasurer |
| Lori Werden | Grundy County Treasurer |
| Robert Watt | Jefferson County Treasurer |
| Kathy L. Tate | Warren County Treasurer |
| Gary Farha | Adams County States Attorney |
| Andrew Doyle | Warren County States Attorney |
| Jim Reed | Sheriff of Bureau County |
| Mark Styninger | Washington County Coroner |
| Rich Hill | Mayor of Round Lake Beach |
| Steve Morley | Mayor of Elmhurst |
| Martin Tully | Mayor of Downers Grove |
| Steve T. Nero | Trustee Village of Westmont |
| Stephen Henley | Mayor of Volo |
| Rhett Taylor | Mayor Village of Grayslake |
| Colonel Craig Wilcox | McHenry County Board |
| Thomas Wilbeck | McHenry County Board |
| Chuck Wheeler | McHenry County Board |
| Michael Skala | McHenry County Board |
| Tom Glenn | Douglas County Board |
| Michael A. Madison | Madison County Board Member |
| Amy Grant | DuPage County Board Member |
| Tonia Khouri | DuPage County Board Member |
| Sean Noonan | DuPage County Board Member |
| Gary Grasso | DuPage County Board Member |
| Michael Manzo | Oak Brook Trustee |
| James D. Futrell | Madison County Board Member |
| John A. Slagel | Livingston County Board Member |
| Gregory A. Mattingley | Macon County Board Member |
| David Michael | Madison County Board Member |
| Charles Thomas | Lee County Board Member |
| Thomas Madonia Jr | Sangamon County Board Member |
| Robert Pollard | Madison County Board Member |
| Brent Milburn | Mayor of Mt. Auburn |
| John Schultz | Jo Daviess County Board Member |
| Chuck Venvertloh | Adams County Clerk/Recorder |
| Rita Hagen | Calhoun County Clerk |
| LaDon Trost | Jo Daviess County Board Member |
| Chad McGinnis | Iroquois County Board Member |
| Michael A. Danforth | Lake County Board Member |
| Ron Mitchell | Mayor of Crainville |
| Marilyn L. Neumeyer | Swansea Village Trustee |
| Dale Anderson | Bureau County Chairman |
| Jon Sandage | McLean County |
| Kathy L. Tate | Warren County Treasurer |
| Dave Greenlief | Warren County Board Member |
| Mark Miller | Marion County Supervisor of Assessments |
| Cory Singer | Will County Board Member |
| Brian M. Gabor | Pontiac City Alderman |
| Jan Carter Niccum | Savoy Village Trustee |
| Richard Hein | Douglas County Board member |
| Daryle Coleman | Fulton County Democratic Chairman |
| Alan McDowell | Fayette County Democrat Chairman |
| Chad Kunkel | Member Brown County Board |
| Rickey Williams Jr | Danville Alderman |
| Dale Berman | North Aurora Mayor |
| Steven Holtkamp | Columbia Alderman |
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