CITY BEAT: ILLINOIS’ HIGH TAXES, CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD WINNERS…AND MORE

     It should not come as shocking news that Illinois is now the highest-taxed state in the country, at least according to WalletHub’s latest annual study on state tax rates, and since Decatur and Macon County are in Illinois — that means we are being taxed more than anywhere else in the nation!
The WalletHub report compares all 50 states and the District of Columbia across four key tax categories: real estate, vehicle property, income, and sales excise taxes. Illinois placed 51st overall, with 50th for real estate taxes and 47th for income taxes, making it the most burdensome state for residents and small businesses alike.
     The study also revealed that Illinois’ real estate tax rate is nearly 8%, second only to New Jersey, and far above the national average.
     According to the study Illinois’ taxes are 51.8% higher than the U.S. average, with New York as the next closest at 34.9%. In contrast, states like Alaska, Delaware, and Wyoming impose the lowest taxes, creating more favorable conditions for families and job creators.
     Additionally, WalletHub’s national survey revealed that “70% of Americans are more concerned about inflation than taxes, and nearly one-third would rather serve on jury duty than file their taxes. For Illinois families and entrepreneurs, these high tax rates exacerbate the state’s ongoing economic and fiscal challenges.”
     Illinois continues to face the highest tax burden in the nation, sparking ongoing discussions about how to address the impact on the state’s economic future.

Tax Rates in Illinois
(1=Lowest; 25=Avg.):
51st – Overall Effective State & Local Tax Rate
47th – Income Tax
50th – Real-Estate Tax
32nd – Sales & Excise Taxes

     I’ve heard more complaints the past year about the high property taxes in Decatur than at anytime during the fifty-plus years I’ve been editor and publisher of this newspaper!
     Also, a huge chunk of money is deducted from each paycheck to support state and federal government operations although we often get nothing in return.
     Citizens are being taxed to death!!!

     • THE RACE for three seats on the Decatur City Council came to an end with Tuesday’s voting and as predicted in this column weeks ago (winners not percentage of votes), incumbent Councilman David Horn led with 3,568 votes, or 28.2%, followed by incumbent Councilman Ed Culp with 2,522, or 20%.

     • EXPANDED — HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is expanding its outpatient laboratory hours to provide greater convenience and accessibility for pa-tients. The new hours, now in ef-fect, offer early morning, extended evening and weekend availability, making St. Mary’s the only facility in Decatur to provide after-hours outpatient laboratory services.
     The new outpatient laboratory service hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m.
     “We heard from the community that they wanted more lab service availability before and after work,” said Paige Meinders, Laboratory Manager at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Expanding outpatient laboratory hours allows us to provide services when it is convenient for our patients, many of whom may need regular lab draws to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol or other issues.”
     Access to services like blood draws, glucose tests, newborn screens, urinalysis, diagnostic tests, weekly drug therapy tests and more is essential health care for the Decatur community.
     “St. Mary’s is committed to making healthcare more accessible and convenient for all members of our community,” said St. Mary’s Chief Administrative Officer Tim Layman. “Our $90 million site of care transformation project gives us the flexibility to address critical healthcare needs and reimagine how we improve our delivery of care in multiple service areas, including laboratory services and many others to come.”
     Patients seeking outpatient laboratory services should enter the hospital through the main entrance and visit the registration desk. For questions, call 217-464-5700.
     To see a full list of laboratory services or more information about HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, visit stmarysdecatur.com.
     That seems to me to be a positive move for the community where concerns about the availability of medical services have been voiced by more than a few readers of this newspaper.

     • REFUNDS — Nelson Garcia, PR person at LendingTree, Inc, sent me information on results of a study done about tax refunds to Illinois taxpayers:
     “Illinois residents receive tax refunds averaging $4,604, the 9th-highest in the country,” he wrote. “We also found that 42% of filers are depending on their refunds, with 1 in 3 planning to use the money to pay down debt.
     “My team at LendingTree analyzed data to determine where Americans receive the largest tax refunds and surveyed consumers to see how they plan to use them. From the states with the biggest refunds to how taxpayers intend to spend the money, here’s what we found:
     • Illinois residents can expect the 9th-largest refunds in the country, receiving average refunds of $4,604.
     • Wyoming residents receive the largest refunds in the country, receiving average refunds of $6,367.
     • Nationwide, the average tax refund spiked to $4,381. That’s slightly higher than the average refund of $4,264 last year and the highest average in the past five years.
     • 42% of filers are relying on their refund. That’s a slight increase from 40% last year.
Notably, 54% of parents with children younger than 18 are reliant on their refunds.
     • 34% planned to pay down debt, and 32% planned to put it toward savings.
You can view the full study here: https://www.lendingtree.com/debt-consolidation/average-tax-refunds-study/
     I found the information interesting, but not surprising that, with the high cost of living these days, “refunds” are counted on to pay down debt or go to help parents raise their children.
     The cost of raising a family these days is sky-high compared to when my children were kids and living at home.

     • RETIREMENT — Singer Johnny Mathis announced last week that he will be retiring from the stage this summer due to his elderly age and declining memory.
     Mathis is 89 years old and it seems like only yesterday that he was singing “Chances Are” when I was in high school and buying his records.
     I bought several of his 33 1/3 albums in my younger years (younger readers may be wondering what 33 1/3 albums are) and probably still have them stored somewhere.
     I think his recording of “The Twelfth of Never” remains one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded — at least in my opinion.
     I felt that way when I first heard it as a teenager and, anytime I hear it played on an “oldies” station, I still marvel at its beautiful message.
     It is hard to believe that Johnny Mathias will soon be 90 and that he still has a few concerts left before his retirement.
     It seems like only yesterday that I was buying his records in Macon Music downtown (the earlier location before they moved to the corner of Main and William streets).
     I guess I thought he would be singing until “The Twelve of Never” and “that’s a long, long time”.
I guess he almost did!!
     Best wishes to Johnny Mathias in his retirement and special thanks to him for all of the beautiful songs he has recorded over the decades.

     • CONCERN — I’ve heard from several concerned readers who depend on their Social Security checks to provide basic necessities in their lives — about some of the mixed messenging that has been coming out of Social Security the past few weeks.
     With 72 million Americans drawing Social Security, and most of them depending on it, any potential change spreads a lot of alarm and uncertainty.
     I realize that it is important to make sure that no one is taking advantage of the benefits, but don’t scare the daylights out of those who have every right to receive those benefits — and count on them!
     I’ve been receiving news releases from Social Security on an almost daily basis with reports on what changes may or may not be made and what recipients have to do to prove their identity.
     The more recent news releases seem to indicate more reasonable approaches to applying for benefits or changing services.
     Those who have been receiving their benefits should not see any changes, at least at this point, or be required to prove they are not 300 years old!

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co., every Thursday morning at 7:00 for the City Hall Insider.

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