A CONVERSATION WITH OUR READERS

Our readers believe
Illinois is ready for a tax increase

by Ed Wojcicki

Illinois appears ready to embrace a tax increase to support our public schools. At least that's how our readers responded to our February Question of the Month. We asked: Is Illinois ready for an increase in the state income tax (perhaps combined with some property tax relief) to raise additional funding for public school education?

More than 100 responses poured in. And, by more than a 2-1 margin, you said Illinois is indeed ready for such a hike in the state tax.

Nearly everyone who disagreed, however, said the problem in education is not too little money, but too little accountability and efficiency in our schools. "Why dump more taxpayer money into a poorly run system, especially in Chicago?" wrote a Bloomington reader. Meanwhile, a Carol Stream reader believes the state has broken past promises to allocate revenue from the lottery and gambling interests to education. "I'm tired of using our children as hostages," that reader complained.

Yet those readers who said Illinois is ready for a tax increase for education were, as a group, adamant in their support and seemingly outraged by inaction in recent years.

Former state Sen. Terrel Clarke of Western Springs wrote: "I chaired the Local Government Finance Study Commission in 1980-81. After picking the best brains in the state, we arrived at the same conclusion as the Ikenberry report did some 16 years later!"

Several readers who support a tax hike combined with property tax relief cautioned that renters would see their income taxes go up without getting a property tax break on homes.

"There should be a mechanism to pass relief along to renters," a Lincoln reader said. "Many who rent are those who can least afford an income tax increase."

Yet another reader cited "the working poor" and middle-income citizens who rent but do not own property, and suggested increasing the personal exemption to reduce the impact of an income tax increase on those people.

"The people are way out in front of the politicians on this," a Chicago supporter of a tax increase said, while a fellow reader said Illinoisans will never be truly ready to pay higher taxes, though it is the right thing to do out of "necessity and fairness."

Two other readers from different parts of the state had practically the same response. "What do you mean by 'is Illinois ready?'" wrote one. "Is it needed? Yes! But will the General Assembly really do something? Probably not."

As the other reader put it: "The question should be: 'Is the General Assembly ready?'"

Illinois Issues April 1997 / 3