Springfield and Chicago were the only municipalities with more than 100,000 residents that did not enact a tax. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson supported a city tax, but the City Council never approved the ordinance. Going forward without the tax will cost the city $60-80 million, according to the IML.
Rather than a head tax, perhaps a “foot tax” on those leaving the jurisdiction would be more remunerative.The collar counties are no doubt gleefully anticipating their new tenants. Passing this grocery tax was a slam dunk way to keep the money with no actual new cost to residents. Whatever they now enact to replace it will be considered to be a new tax and they will take double the heat.
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Rather than a head tax, perhaps a “foot tax” on those leaving the jurisdiction would be more remunerative.The collar counties are no doubt gleefully anticipating their new tenants. Passing this grocery tax was a slam dunk way to keep the money with no actual new cost to residents. Whatever they now enact to replace it will be considered to be a new tax and they will take double the heat.