Illinois taxes too much for too little

I totally agree with Julie Belonger from the Sept. 4 opinion page about how we don’t want our taxes to go to a dog park. That’s an understatement.

Recently, I asked a couple of friends in other states what they pay for vehicle license plate registration renewal. I’m a senior citizen and pay $99 per year. My friends in Utah pay $49 per year and have a home valued at $386,000 and pay $987.56 for real estate taxes.

Friends in Missouri pay $49.50 — and that covers two years. To renew a driver’s license in Missouri six years costs $20. The real estate taxes on a very nice three-bedroom home in Missouri costs a little more than $200. The real estate tax on a small two-bedroom home (1,000 square feet) costs $3,272.28 a year here.

Something is very wrong in Illinois. Is it because our governors here in Illinois make our license plates?

Illinois interstate highways all have tolls that they are raising again. All our highways are the worst anywhere. When Wisconsin made its interstate they were promised that when it was paid for it would be free. When you hit the Wisconsin state line you are on a freeway that you find in most every other state with very good roads.

We are paying way too much taxes in Illinois. No wonder people are moving to other states. Please stop trying to find out how much more you can tax us in Illinois.

Verna Homewood

Elgin