Oberweis says income tax increase will be part of state budget compromise

An income tax increase is an "inevitable" part of any state budget compromise, according to State Sen. Jim Oberweis. But the Sugar Grove Republican hasn't decided if he'll support that tax increase.

Oberweis provided members of the Geneva Rotary Club a Springfield update Tuesday morning. He predicted lawmakers would come together on an education funding proposal by the end of summer. But the larger budget, which now requires a three-fifths vote, is mired in a political struggle between Gov. Bruce Rauner's turnaround agenda and the interests of unions, lawyers and other Democratic interests, he said.

Oberweis said it's clear the Democratic plan is to put forward out-of-balance budgets to force Rauner to either propose or embrace a tax increase. He specifically pointed to the state's 3.75 percent income tax as a major point of contention.

"I have a feeling it's going to be going back up," Oberweis told the Rotarians. "We don't know how high or for how long."

Some proposals include a state income tax of 4.5 to 4.75 percent.

In an interview after his speech, Oberweis said he believes some version of that increase is not desirable, but inevitable.

"My hope is that we'll truly make it a temporary increase to pay off bills," Oberweis said. "I think with this governor, if we have that provision, he will enforce it and truly use the money to pay off our backlog of bills."

Oberweis wouldn't commit to supporting an income tax increase at this point. He said he would want an automatic sunset provision, just like a 2011 income tax increase contained.

"I would like to see us dramatically curtail our spending to bring it within the limits of where we're at financially and get the economy going again," Oberweis said.

The state's unfriendly business climate and taxes are forcing him and his family to only explore the states surrounding Illinois for future expansion of their Oberweis ice cream shops and That Burger Joint! restaurants, Oberweis said.

"It would be great if I could tell my son to open those stores in Illinois," he said. "But it would take some enormous success with (House Speaker) Mike Madigan to make that happen."

By success, Oberweis means getting at least some of Rauner's turnaround agenda passed.

Oberweis supports efforts to pass term limits, independent redistricting, workers' compensation and tort reform as well as a statewide property tax freeze.

"I wouldn't be running again if Rauner hadn't become governor," Oberweis said.