The governor has presided over $77 billion in increases while Illinois’ economic growth lags.
By Ravi Mishra | Illinois Policy Institute
Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants more tax and fee hikes even after presiding over at least 57 of them since 2019 and with Illinois’ budget still in dysfunction.
New tax and fee burdens under Pritzker have cost taxpayers more than $77 billion. Last year alone, Illinoisans paid $16.5 billion more in state taxes than they would have if taxes stayed consistent with 2018 levels.
The median Illinois household now pays nearly $1,400 more per year in state taxes than it would have under prior levels.
Examples of recent tax policy moves in Illinois:
- The gas tax was doubled in 2019 from $0.19 to $0.38 per gallon and indexed to annual increases to inflation. It now stands at 48.3 cents per gallon.
- The net-operating-loss deduction was capped in 2021, effectively double-taxing Illinois companies.
- Late last year Pritzker signed a bill decoupling Illinois from federal business tax cuts.
Property taxes have risen 27% under Pritzker’s watch. While driven by local decisions, state policy, particularly around pension and school funding, has pressured local governments and contributed to those hikes.
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