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Study: All of Downstate receives more from the state than it pays in

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Illinois

Longstanding political dialogue in Illinois is that downstate Illinois does not receive its fair share when it comes to a return on state funding and resources.

While there is not an equal funding distribution across the state, research by the Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows that despite heavy rhetoric, the downstate region receives more than it pays into the state coffers. The best deals are received in central Illinois and Southern Illinois. […]

The research breaks the state’s 102 counties into six specific regions, including Cook County, a five-county suburban section that surrounds Cook County, and the 96 remaining downstate regions, which are subdivided into north, central, southwest and southern regions.

The research shows the south region receives $2.81 in state funds for every $1 generated. The central Illinois region of 50 counties receives $1.87 back for every $1.00 sent to Springfield. All of the downstate regions receive more from the state budget than they pay in taxes. By comparison, Cook County receives 90 cents for every $1, and the suburban counties only 53 cents for every $1 generated.

The study is here. And here’s the map…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:11 pm

Comments

From the article, this renders the map useless:

“The largest untraced item on the revenue side was the corporate income tax. The LRU staff noted that these taxes are filed in the home county of the corporation while business can be done across a number of counties or in other states.
On the disbursement side, the largest single item not traced was contributions to the various public pension systems which have grown to over 20% of the general fund.”

Comment by Occam Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:16 pm
Yet all those downstate republicans claim they are paying for Chicago.

Comment by Real Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:18 pm
Please don’t confuse me with facts. Thank you.

Comment by Bruce (no not him) Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:18 pm
No surprise here.

Comment by Flynn's Mom Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:20 pm
I guess up here in Lake County/ we are paying for everybody else

Comment by Sue Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Yet another cogent, well-researched bundling of information that will be completely ignored by 70% of the population south of I-72.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:21 pm
Don’t tell that to Ms. Bourne.

Let Charlie Wheeler point this chart out to her .

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:21 pm
I don’t mind helping people with government money, as a general rule. Need to me has no political affiliation. I support Medicaid expansion to help people all over America, as an example. Those who hate Chicago/Cook County should be careful when passing judgment about government, that they’re not hypocrites.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:22 pm
Sue It’s always a republican saying you are paying for something. Republicans complain more than anyone else about taxes yet you people are suppose to be the most patriotic. Lol

Comment by Real Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:22 pm
Downstate politicians opposing graduated income tax that would bring more tax dollars to their leg district

Comment by Almost the weekend Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:25 pm
For the past 20 years- the percentage of state funding for collar counties public K -12 education has been diminished to virtually nothing

Comment by Sue Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:25 pm
Work and lived in Aurora. retired to Ottawa. 28% cheaper living, nice, if you can stand the swarms of pick’em up trucks.

Comment by wondering Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:26 pm
So I’m Illinois and Senator Manar is Mississippi. Sounds about right.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:28 pm
Just think if the 99th General Assembly would’ve passed a budget those two years how much better off all these regions would be.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:31 pm
OK Sue, how about we put a prison in Lake County. Would that make you feel better?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:34 pm
“This map tells me we better start closing state universities downstate quicker.”

- Fake Bruce Rauner

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:36 pm
It’s just like all the red states that receive more federal dollars than the blue states, but want to complain about taxes.

Comment by Ike Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:37 pm
=For the past 20 years- the percentage of state funding for collar counties public K -12 education has been diminished to virtually nothing=

I think Kane is a “collar” county. Pull up the AFR for U-46. It might be informative. Same Joliet 87 and many other districts. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your tears.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:42 pm
Even with these facts you will never see democrats or people in Chicago complaining about our taxes going to downstate. Unlike republicans we aren’t that type of person to be so selfish and want others to receive little.

Yet there is a host of republicans complaining about paying for others when facts show they are receiving more than others.

Comment by Real Friday, Aug 10, 18 @ 4:52 pm
==From the article, this renders the map useless.==

How is the map useless? Yes the headquarters writes the tax check in their hometown.

And considering that an employed person is more likely to be employed by the state if they live downstate, if pension disbursements were counted, the discrepancy between Chicago metro area and downstate would be even greater than the map shows.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:53 am
If downstaters who complain about getting shortchanged actually believed in the principle of every region getting no more than its fair share, then they would demand their region get off the gravy train, which gives them five times more than suburban residents. I won’t hold my breath.

Comment by anon2 Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 11:30 am