54 Comments - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:37 am: Until we get a graduated income tax it’s going to be one-off revenue sources for the foreseeable future. No other good options exist. And even a graduated income tax won’t be enough. We need to expand the sales tax too, and look at some other stuff. What we have here is a big debt sandwich, and we’re all going to have to take a bite. - Steve - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:40 am: Borrowing to pay a backlog is a sign your expenses are too high for the revenues you expect. Let’s hope there’s no national recession in the next 4 years: because if there is these revenue projections might be wrong. - PJ - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:40 am: There’s not really other options. He wasn’t elected to slash education and safety net budgets, and a progressive tax can’t be implemented for years. - regnaD kciN - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:41 am: I guess I missed the tax amnesty proposal mentioned in the Bond Buyer article when JB presented the budget. In my opinion, this is a bad idea/bad tax policy. Most of the money from tax amnesties come from the settling of audits so taxpayers don’t have to pay the penalties. This is money that would have come in the door anyway but the amnesty speeds up the process so it comes in sooner than it would have and the State gets less money overall because they don’t get the penalties they otherwise would have received. - Also in the 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:41 am: I agree with my fellow 47th ward-person this was kind of always going to be a stopgap budget until we could set up a graduated income tax in Illinois. Buys a full year to do it. - OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:42 am: == There’s not really other options. He wasn’t elected to slash education and safety net budgets, and a progressive tax can’t be implemented for years. == Could just increase the income tax or implement new taxes. - No Raise - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:43 am: Bringing down the bill backlog is a no brainer. Reduce 9 and 12% interest costs asap by refinancing. - Steve - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:44 am: As the minimum wage goes up in the next several years it will be interesting to see how that affects state and local governments rising costs. Plus, how many businesses will alter their tax and revenue projections based on higher costs. Stay tuned because no one really knows. - foster brooks - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:46 am: whatever happened to the millionaires tax? - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:48 am: The plan has to be to bring long-term fiscal stability, which means a graduated income tax. According to what I just read, a Democrat signed a resolution against the graduated income tax amendment. If this legislator is not for a critical and major Democratic policy, what the bloody heck is s/he a Democrat for? - Steve - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:49 am: - foster brooks - Once you get a progressive income tax , you have the opportunity to have a millionaires tax. - Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:55 am: What’s the plan going to be when the voters reject a progressive income tax? Too many just assume that the voters will pass higher taxes on themselves to pay for the state’s decades of corruption and mismanagement. - Mason born - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:55 am: I have a guestion & concern. What happens if voters reject the Progressive Income tax? I’m not saying they will but it seems foolish to count a chicken when the egg hasn’t even been laid. Is there a fall back position/plan? - Just A Dude - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 9:57 am: Either a millionaires tax or an increase in the flat tax could be done without a CA and could help bridge the gap until the progressive tax is law. - Steve - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:01 am: Will Illinois’ wealthiest resident get a Florida driver’s license to avoid a progressive income tax? Ken Griffin holds #1 spot for biggest 2018 tax bill at $3.66M in Palm Beach , Florida. We are pretty sure Florida wants him as a resident. https://therealdeal.com/miami/2018/11/28/who-owns-palm-beachs-highest-taxed-estates-2/ - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:07 am: ===a millionaires tax… could be done without a CA=== On which planet do you live? - Zef - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:07 am: We shouldn’t be surprised by this as a number of the revenue ideas are coming from the Raunerite advisors still being utilized within the administration. Look at who benefits from some of these, big business with powerful lobbyists. Raunerites are always for big business private profit. It’s interesting to see how Raunerite and Pritzker values are aligning. Delinquent Tax Amnesty? Really? How about the State going after what is owed, as in all of it, instead of following Rauner fantasy advice of “tax amnesty”. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:09 am: “What’s the plan going to be when the voters reject a progressive income tax?” Since some have certainty the voters will reject it, why not put it on the ballot? Is it because it will upset the billionaire GOP donor types—Ricketts, Griffin, Uihlein? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:12 am: The wailing and gnashing of teeth from Steve and the Best Team in America is really obnoxious. Debt problems? Lower taxes. Revenue problems? Lower taxes. Car won’t start? Lower taxes. How about some real ideas? Bruce lost. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:13 am: New revenues, $1.1B, are 2.8% of the proposed $39B budget. Of those, $495M of one-shots equals 1.2% of the overall plan. Not ideal, but far more realistic than a $4.6B “work together on something-something” line item. The GA has whiz kids, too, who can propose ways to tighten this up. It’s something to work with, at least, and it appears certain that a budget with real revenues will be passed. So we got that going for us. Which is nice. Predictability, that’s what the biz groups say they want, right? - SSL - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:15 am: Grandson, why don’t the Dems just put it on the ballot? They don’t need anyone else. And why do you get to define what “fair” is? - regnaD kciN - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:16 am: –It’s interesting to see how Raunerite and Pritzker values are aligning. Delinquent Tax Amnesty? Really? How about the State going after what is owed, as in all of it, instead of following Rauner fantasy advice of “tax amnesty”.– I don’t recall Rauner ever proposing a tax amnesty plan. I believe there was one, if not two, during Blago/Quinn years. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:18 am: –Will Illinois’ wealthiest resident get a Florida driver’s license to avoid a progressive income tax?– Why didn’t he do it already to avoid any income tax, Nostradamus? You know what Griff’s Illinois income tax bill is now? Tell us, please. That’s quite a scoop. - lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:19 am: One big ripping of the bandage is better politically than drip-drip-drip water torture. I heard all the environmental arguments yesterday, but that bag tax isn’t worth the psychological impact on taxpayers, especially when they’re going to be subjected to higher taxes and fees from all places (state and local). A better approach: 3% sequestration for everything but education (so you can tell voters “we’re tightening our belts too”) and an income tax raise now, so you can pitch progressive taxation as a tax cut for most. This is JB’s honeymoon - use it wisely. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:19 am: ==Will Illinois’ wealthiest resident get a Florida driver’s license to avoid a progressive income tax?== That isn’t going to cut it. It’s where you spend your time living and working. Simply changing your mailing address doesn’t absolve you of you Illinois tax liability. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:20 am: Make fireworks legal here and get revenue. We use them, we buy them in Indiana and Wisconsin. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:20 am: ===And why do you get to define what “fair” is? === He doesn’t. But it’s your job to show why it’s not fair instead of just whining. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:22 am: ===We are pretty sure=== Try speaking for yourself here. Also, you look like a goof when you call yourself “we.” - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:24 am: === A better approach: 3% sequestration for everything but education=== Yeah? Who’s gonna tell the kids under DCFS’ care? - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:25 am: === A better approach: 3% sequestration for everything but education=== Also, not even Rauner campaigned on something like that. So, you’d better get yourself elected. - Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:26 am: Grandson, Show the rates. Put the rates out for all to see and then put it on the ballot. We all know it will not happen that was as the rates will have to be large at the top and also impact the middle-class. The rates are dictated by math and the math does not play into the Democrat claim that a progressive tax will only impact the rich. To say the middle class will not have to pay more is simply untrue. Pritzker and his brain-trust know this and that is why we have never seen the rates. It does not play into their narrative that only the rich will pay more. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:27 am: === Pritzker and his brain-trust know this and that is why we have never seen the rates=== There’s no way they can put this on the ballot without disclosing the rates upfront. Take a breath, remove tinfoil hat, be patient. He’s been in office like 5 or 6 weeks. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:29 am: 3% sequestration for the Veterans Homes? 3% sequestration for road maintenance? Medicaid processing? What? - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:29 am: ==And why do you get to define what “fair” is?== Why do you? You don’t have to like it but that’s the pitch for the progressive income tax. The sell is that it makes taxation more “fair” by making those with higher incomes pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:30 am: ==Make fireworks legal here and get revenue.== Yeah. That’ll bring in a ton of revenue. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:31 am: ==To say the middle class will not have to pay more is simply untrue.== So you know what the plan looks like? Because by your declaration you seem to have an inside scoop. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:31 am: Marijuana and fireworks sounds like a hell of a weekend. These are the real answers we need. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:35 am: ==3% sequestration for everything== This type of plan is lazy and shows a complete lack of understanding of the potential consequences. You don’t deal with the budget with a “one size fits all” approach. Besides, you couldn’t do 3% on everything but education. There are a ton of mandated services that must be funded (unless you want to go back to the Rauner plan of simply not paying the bill). - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:36 am: ===This type of plan is lazy and shows a complete lack of understanding of the potential consequences=== Other than that it’s perfect. /s Simple solutions are almost always neither. - Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:41 am: Demoralized==So you know what the plan looks like? Because by your declaration you seem to have an inside scoop.== It’s called math. More in Springfield need to give it a try. - don the legend - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:42 am: Our state fiscal situation reminds me of the movie Apollo 13. NASA had to figure out how to reduce energy consumption in the spacecraft down to what was considered to be an impossibly low level. They removed all the weight they could, literally used duct tape and never gave up until they figured it out. Illinois’ fiscal condition is a similar dilemma and will require similar unorthodox solutions. No easy answers whatsoever. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:45 am: –There are a ton of mandated services that must be funded (unless you want to go back to the Rauner plan of simply not paying the bill).– Or give up federales matching funds. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:46 am: ==It’s called math.== Is that the new math? Using invisible numbers? If it’s math then you should be able to show us what your math looks like. I have no idea what the results of a progressive income tax will be and despite your self-perceived abilities as a psychic neither do you. - Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 10:46 am: JB won the election. Handily. He gets to decide what is fair. He owns his actions. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 11:07 am: ==It’s called math.== I see that snarky retort more and more. Like someone who might happen to disagree is incapable of doing math. What are the numbers mathboy? Will they be different tomorrow? - Honeybear - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 11:27 am: Don the Legend- the family just watched that movie two weeks ago. The reality is that NASA had the best minds to figure out what to do. Teams of highly competent people to help out. Take that away Then you get more of what the state agencies are dealing with. You’ve got a lot of highly trained and competent stateworkers- out here in capsule of state. We’re trying our best with totally limited resources and personnel. “Springfield we have a problem” “Springfield do you copy?” “Springfield do you copy?” “Illinois State Agencies, this is JB Pritzker. Launch 15$ minimum wage, Launch Progressive income tax Launch Recreational Marijuana Launch All programs. Springfield, we have a problem. Are you reading us? Copy - Flat Bed Ford - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 11:45 am: Da Big Bad Wolf, It’s mathgirl. Please make a note of it. I’ll show my work once the elected Governor of Illinois does. - City Zen - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:05 pm: ==and an income tax raise now, so you can pitch progressive taxation as a tax cut for most.== If a corporation suggested this method for anything, they would be derided, and rightly so. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:09 pm: ===It’s called math.=== Then show your work. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:10 pm: ==I’ll show my work once the elected Governor of Illinois does== So, you’ve decreed that taxes will go up on the middle class. You have no math to back that assertion up because there haven’t been any numbers released any. Tell me again how you’re doing any math in this scenario? If you don’t have any math then just say so. You’re arguing like a child. - City Zen - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:12 pm: ==And why do you get to define what “fair” is?== Fair is relative. But if they don’t define what they think is fair, assume it is unfair to you, regardless of what you make. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:40 pm: Pritzker said he wants companion legislation on rates, to accompany the graduated income tax CA. That’s when rates would be available. They would first be negotiated, and one or a few Republicans should help out. “why don’t the Dems just put it on the ballot?” Republicans should not complain then that Democrats are acting unilaterally. It looks like Pritzker’s trying real hard to avoid a flat tax increase with counting revenue chickens before they hatch. As someone who voted for him, I don’t want him to raise the flat tax without a real stab at a graduated income tax and accompanying property tax relief. - Maximus - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 12:58 pm: Instead of only considering raising taxes on the current base why not widen the base and tax retirement income? This would pull in a substantial amount and could be implemented without changing the constitution. Makes sense anyways, everyone is using the roads and benefiting from the same infrastructure. - RNUG - Tuesday, Feb 26, 19 @ 1:03 pm: == What’s the plan going to be when the voters reject a progressive income tax? == Increased flat tax is the easiest option. Plus add some service taxes. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.