Opinion

'Fair tax' is a start to fix Illinois

Posted May 21, 2019 1:00 am

As discussions continue in Springfield on implementing a fair tax in Illinois, I hope we can count on our representatives to do what's right for all Illinoisans and vote yes.

Illinois is facing a $3.2 billion budget hole that we desperately need to fix, and a fair tax will help. Without a fair tax and the revenue it would bring in to address this crisis, taxes might have to go up 20% on all Illinoisans, or critical services we all rely on would be subject to another round of devastating cuts.

Illinois currently has one of the most unfair tax systems in the entire country. A recent study showed that the average middle-class family in Illinois pays nearly 13% of their income in income taxes, while the top 1% only pays about half of that.

I think we can all agree that just isn't fair.

Under a fair tax, the wealthiest Illinoisans will finally be forced to pay their share, while 97% of Illinoisans will see no income tax increase.

I hope my neighbors will join me in urging our lawmakers to support the fair tax so Illinoisans can finally have a tax system that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest among us.

Nicholas Scipione

Schaumburg

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