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For each Illinois tax dollar that went to Washington in fiscal 1976, the state collected only about 71 cents in federal spending. Illinois contributed about S5.98 billion more to the feds than it got back, an unfavorable balance higher than any otherstate's .... Personal income growth in the state has slowed. In 1975, total personal income was $75.7 billion, an increase of 8.1 per cent over 1974. In 1974, the rate of increase was 8.8 per cent compared to 11.4 per cent in 1973. . . . Schaumberg with $16.6 million in sales tax receipts in 1976 and 544 retailers, ranks 6th among Illinois cities because of its large shopping center. Other top ranking cities are Chicago, $365.1 million in sales tax receipts, 27,223 retailers; Peoria, $33.9 million, 1,787; Rockford, $28.3 million, 2,042; Springfield, $23.9 million, 1,417; and Decatur, $20.5 million,: 1,151. . . . According to the Comptroller's Fiscal Report for August, Medicaid spending in Illinois totaled $964.6 million in fiscal 1977, a $134.6 million (16.2 per cent) increase over 1976; 84 per cent of the increase, $113.0 million, was in hospital related costs, Income assistance spending declined 28.6 million in 1977 from 1976 totals. . . . Tax collections by the Illinois Department of Revenue in fiscal 1977 topped the $5 billion mark for the first time. Total collections came to $5.36 billion, up about 10 per cent from fiscal 1976. Main revenue sources were: state income tax, $5.36 billion, up 17.5 per cent; sales tax, $1.75 billion, up 6.6 percent; motor fuel tax, $422.3 million, up 3.8 per cent; municipal sales tax, $380.7 million, up 9.9 per cent; public utilities, $329.2 million, up 20.0 per cent; cigarette, S178.5 million, up 0.9 per cent, and state lottery ticket sales, $99.7 million, down 37.1 per cent. . . . The maximum interest rate in October for loans secured by residential real estate is 9.5 per cent. ... Preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment figures for September are 4.9 per cent statewide; Chicago, 4.5 per cent; Blooming ton-Normal, 3.1 per cent; Champaign-Urbana, 3.3 per cent; Davenport-Rock Island Moline, 4.1 per cent; Decatur, 5.8 per cent; East St. Louis, 6.5 per cent; Peoria, 4.5 per cent; Rockford, 6.4 per cent, and Springfield, 4.8 per cent. September layoffs in the Chicago area will show up in next month's figures.
30 / November 1977 / Illinois Issues