Here’s why your taxes are so high

Recently, the Kane County Treasurer sent my real estate tax bill. My taxes increased $545. I live in Batavia Township and we have wonderful schools, great police protection, a fire and EMT department that is top notch and the township, city and county provides services too numerous to mention. I am willing to pay my share for these top quality governmental services.

I would like to propose a reason the property taxes increased.

Trickle Down economics began with the rich being given huge tax breaks over the last 30 years. Income taxes at the federal income levels are at an all-time low and commercial taxes are also low. With no revenue growth through taxes, federal money is not available to share with the states to support programs we all take for granted, like Medicare, Medicaid, veteran’s benefits, public schools and infrastructure development.

The state of Illinois has a flat income tax that gives a tax break to the wealthy. That is, a person making any amount pays the same percentage tax as any other individual. With lower taxes to the wealthy and business it lowers their share of the burden in paying for governmental services.

The people I know who complain the most about taxes vote for Republicans, who vote to keep federal and state taxes low. The lack of federal and state tax monies trickling down to the local level forces the local government to increase real estate taxes.

By voting for Republicans the homeowner is cutting his own throat.

Do away with the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, have a graduated Illinois income tax, impose a tax increase on the service industries, tax stock exchange transfers of wealth and our debt will disappear and we will balance the budget. Vote for candidates who share the belief that revenue enhancement is necessary for all to share the burden of government equally.

Ron Gilkerson

Batavia