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Low- and middle-income families to be hit hardest by [Illinois] income tax hike
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| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Jan 31, 2011 07:23pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | ANDY BROWNFIELD |
| Media | Newspaper - State Journal-Register: Springfield, IL |
| News Date | Saturday, January 29, 2011 01:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | "All Illinoisans are going to feel the impact of the state’s income tax increase, but experts on both sides of the issue say low- and middle-income families will be hit the hardest.
“It’s especially going to hurt lower-income folks — those who are just starting out in careers or are struggling for whatever reason, who have incomes in the $20,000-$40,000 range,” said John Tillman, chief executive of the conservative think tank Illinois Policy Institute.
“Here’s what people miss when they discuss this tax increase — the incremental cost of this tax increase, comes off of the last dollar saved or spent by anyone.”
After an individual or family pays rent, sales taxes, property taxes and any other expenses, the income tax increase – Illinois’ rate went from 3 percent previously to 5 percent as of Jan. 1 -- will be paid out of what money is left over, Tillman said.
“A family of four making $40,000 is going to have an extra $640 they’re going to have to come up with,” Tillman said. “And for that family, things are very, very tight.”
Alfonso Lee, 42, who works in document management at the Willard Ice Building – ironically, the headquarters of the Illinois Department of Revenue -- and said the tax increase was “crazy.” He moved to Springfield from Florida with his two children a year and a half ago, when his wife got a job at Memorial Medical Center.
“It is going to make it harder to take care of our family,” Lee said. “We’ve got two cars, but we’re both riding the bus. Gas is high, taxes are high, we’re riding the bus to make ends meet.” |
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