Home repair tax is a bad idea, Springfield

Spring is here and for many people that means finally having those long-awaited home repair jobs completed.

Unfortunately, the cost of building that new deck or installing new windows in the kitchen could go up substantially in Illinois if some politicians in Springfield get their way.

One of the proposals included in the so-called "Grand Bargain" in the state Senate would place an onerous 6.25 percent on home remodeling and repairs. What's worse, the proposed new tax will also likely include a confusing system of tax collection in which some products would be taxed for repair but not for installation. Hardly an ideal situation for both consumers and home repair professionals.

The last thing Illinois needs is to discourage home repair and home improvements by taxing these services. If lawmakers are looking to increase revenue, they should consider job-creating legislation to jump-start the Illinois economy.

There is not a fiscal problem in Springfield that can't be solved by more jobs. Instead of raising taxes on home repair services, lawmakers should look at ways to create incentives for Illinois residents to put people to work by hiring them to do their home repair work.

I urge all Illinois residents to join me in opposing the home repair tax.

Allen Drewes

Old Towne Custom Builders Inc.

St. Charles