Springfield…. In his first State Capitol press conference, State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R – Metropolis) provided a report on the status of the tax burden facing the citizens of Illinois. Windhorst says Illinois ranks 51st among the 50 states and Washington D.C. when considering the overall burden of state and local taxes, according to a recent comprehensive report by Wallet Hub.
“Last week’s WalletHub.com study found Illinois ranks dead last when it comes to the overall state and local tax burden,” Windhorst said. “My district borders Missouri and Kentucky, two states that have lower overall tax burdens. With Governor Pritzker proposing several new tax increases, I believe he is creating incentives for people and businesses to continue to leave the state for greener pastures.”
The Wallet Hub study found that Illinoisans’ median tax rate is 14.9% where the national average is 10.76%. Windhorst says one of his motivations for running for office was to stop the endless expansion of government taxation and spending. The study showed Illinois ranked 51st in overall effective state and local tax rates, 39th in income tax, and 50th in real estate tax. When Illinois’ cost of living adjustment is taken into consideration, it still ranked 49th in overall taxpayer friendliness.
“One of the reasons I ran for this office is because I’ve seen my friends, family members, neighbors, local businesses, and my constituents leave Illinois for cheaper living and less regulations,” Windhorst said. “The reason people are leaving is because it is too expensive to live here and do business here. When it comes to State and local taxes, our citizens are maxed out.”
Windhorst says he and his fellow House Republican colleagues are working on solutions to bring construction jobs to Illinois, pointing to his sponsorship of the Blue Collar Jobs Act and a resolution that expresses opposition to Governor Pritzker’s proposed progressive income tax increase.
“When are the Democrats, who control every level of power in this State, ever going to take one action that makes it easier to do business in Illinois and to grow jobs here, or to lower taxes?” Windhorst asked. “We have to make this a better place to do business and a better place to own property. A better tax environment leads to businesses moving here and hiring people. More people paying taxes means a lessening burden on everyone else. We need more taxpayers, not more tax increases.”
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