An opportunity for high-tax states. If the state and local income tax deduction (SALT) is eliminated—which tax reform plans currently before Congress do—taxpayers in high-tax states could face higher tax bills despite lower federal rates. Illinois is one of those high-tax states, and the solution, says the Illinois Policy Institute, is for state lawmakers to lower taxes:
Illinois is already experiencing capital flight. According to Internal Revenue Service data, Illinois is already losing higher-earning residents to out-migration. A consequence of these outflows of labor and capital is state tax revenues suffer as the tax base shrinks. This exodus has had disastrous effects on the state’s budget. Eliminating the SALT deduction would only make this trend worse – as the full effect of Illinois’ high state and local taxes is truly felt.
But if state lawmakers pre-empt the possible elimination of the SALT deduction with tax cuts that improve Illinois’ competitiveness relative to other states, the president’s plan can trigger large inflows of capital to Illinois that would grow the state’s economy.
Competitive tax cuts grow the tax base, raising additional public funds without further harm to the average household. As a result, government programs that help the less fortunate can be better funded in a more competitive low-tax regime.
Fiscal solvency is a symptom of tax competitiveness while insolvency – as in Illinois’ current fiscal state – indicates a lack thereof. The bulk of evidence suggests tax hikes shrink the tax base while tax cuts grow the tax base and improve economic conditions for everyone.
More at Illinois Policy Institute
Good example is Cook County Beverage tax on soda pop:
It will be hard to find accurate reporting but in the short term it raised some new money. In reality beverage sales dropped along with sales tax revenues. There also was job loss related to this especially at places like Jewel which suffered lower Beverage sales, less items purchased, and lower customer counts.
Many people have discovered shopping in Indiana with no tax on food and 7% on non food is a good option. In addition the neighbor counties all have lower taxes. My thoughts backed up by many, is the beverage tax will cost the area millions in less sales, perhaps never fully recover.
Until Illinois eliminates the pension scam, cuts Medicaid, shrinks unnecessary government, and gets serious about job creation by lowering all of taxes, Illinois will continue to lose population.
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Why should taxpayers from fiscally responsible states, – Nebraska, Indiana, Texas, Florida – effectively subsidize taxpayers in the spendocracies – New York, Illinois, California?
Remember – voters in those high tax states opted for those big deficit spending, high tax legislators.
Crossroads? LOL! The State of Illinois can’t pay its bills the way it is now.
The idea. Shift electoral votes OUT of blue states to red states to level the electoral college disadvantage. This could be in time for the 2020 census.
Taxes will never go down.
Socialism is fine until you run out of other people’s money… Crook county and Illinois is proof of that