Elmhurst League of Women Voters to hold program on graduated income tax

In the general election this November, Illinois citizens will decide if the state should replace its flat income tax with a graduated rate tax.

This change requires amending the 1970 state constitution to remove the requirement that income shall be taxed at a flat, non-graduated rate. This change would permit income to be taxed at different rates, with higher income taxed at higher rates and lower income at lower rates, as in the federal income tax system. The rate is currently set at 4.95%.

The "Fair Tax" graduated rate plan will be the top issue on the November ballot.

Proponents of the proposal say it will raise over $3 billion a year to help to fund state and local government, schools and human services, and help the state address its backlog of unpaid bills. The League of Women Voters of Illinois has supported a graduated rate income tax for Illinois for over 40 years.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, the League of Women Voters of Elmhurst will host a presentation to inform voters about the proposed new tax plan and its impact. The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Elmhurst Public Library, 125 S. Prospect Ave. This is not a library sponsored event.

For information, visit my.lwv.org/illinois/elmhurst or www.facebook.com/LeagueOfWomenVotersElmhurstIl/.

On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is celebrating 100 years as a nonpartisan grass-roots civic organization. Founded out of the women's suffrage movement, the League has evolved to fight to educate all people on their civic duties and advocate for government and social reform legislation.

The League of Women Voters is the national parent to local Leagues in all 50 states and more than 700 communities, but the League of Women Voters of Illinois serves as its unofficial flagship, since the League was founded here in Illinois.