Chambana Sun

Brad Halbrook, candidate for state representative in the 107th District, recently gave his opinion on the issue of high taxes in Illinois.

Halbrook criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker for failing to use COVID relief funds to provide actual tax relief by replenishing the depleted Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

"JB Pritzker is like a college kid who gets some money to pay rent from his parents and instead uses it to throw a kegger. We had money from the federal government to get back to normal and instead of paying back the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that was depleted because of the mandatory lockdown of our economy, the Governor chose to throw a kegger at taxpayer expense," Halbrook told Chambana Sun. "He decided to fund temporary tax relief measures that do little to help working people but do a lot to make it seem like he is making a difference. We need solutions not election year ploys."

Illinois' property tax rate is the second highest in the nation at 2.27%, behind only New Jersey, according to a June report by Rocket Mortgage. The owner of a $194,500 home in Illinois will pay $4,942 annually in property taxes. 30 states have property tax rates lower than 1%.

"Years ago, the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) created a property tax task force to look into how to reduce property taxes. Of course, nothing came from the task force. It was all talk like all previous such task forces," Halbrook said. "We know our property taxes are too high. The real question is what are we going to do about it? So far, the answer from the Democrats is – nothing."

Pritzker doubled Illinois' gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, according to Fox News. Pritzker also instituted an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats passed legislation postponing this year's scheduled gas tax increase of 2.2 cents from July to January, Fox News reported.

The gas tax increase delay was part of a bundle of tax rebates and delays in the record $46.5 billion FY 23 budget, according to Illinois Policy. The tax rebates and delays will save the average Illinois family $556. The 2.2 cents increase to the gas tax will take effect on Jan. 2023, and will be followed by another increase in July 2023, likely of 3.8 cents per gallon, bringing Illinois' total gasoline tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.

Halbrook thinks that the move doesn't go far enough to help Illinois families and would prefer more permanent tax relief reform.

"The gas stations in Indiana on the Illinois border have an awful lot of cars with Illinois plates at their pumps. These temporary tax relief measures have done nothing to help working people. In 2023, Illinois fuel buyers will get hit with 2 gas tax increases, January 1st & July 1st," Halbrook said. "People are fed up with the crumbs the political elites throw their way. They want real solutions. They see right through the nonsense JB Pritzker is trying to sell them."

A March report by WalletHub found that Illinois has the tenth overall highest tax burden in the nation at 9.7%. The report weighed property taxes, income taxes, and sales and excise taxes.