Rockford Sun

As dozens of states consider amending tax codes for the current year to provide financial relief to residents, Illinois lawmakers are calling for real change for long-term relief.

Nearly three dozen states are considering tax relief or restructuring of current tax codes this year, according to the Tax Foundation, Illinois Policy reported on May 3.

In the $46.5 billion budget passed in April 2022, there are several measures that Democrats say will help taxpayers, according to NBC 5 Chicago News. Those include suspension of the 1% sales tax on food through July 1, 2023; a freeze of the state's fuel tax at $.39 per gallon through Jan. 1, 2023; and property tax rebates of up to $300 per household.

"We end this legislative session with enormous and historic victories for the people of Illinois: Gas, grocery and property tax relief, more support for local government than ever before, a massive improvement in staffing for our nursing home residents, short- and long-term debt reduction and a balanced budget for the fourth year in a row," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said, according to NBC. 

In a May 6 Facebook post, Rep. Joe Sosnowski pointed to the state's ranking in the 2022 State Business Climate Tax Index to note that real change is necessary, not just temporary gimmicks.

"While Illinois settles for Pritzker's temporary tax relief that expires after the November election, neighboring states are offering long-term tax relief," Sosnowski wrote in his Facebook post. "Illinois ranked 36th in the 2022 State Business Climate Tax Index, the only state among our neighbors to decline by 10 spots. Illinoisans don't need election gimmicks, they need long-term relief."

Sosnowski is joined by his fellow Republicans in the General Assembly that would have done things differently.

As part of their efforts, Rep. Patrick Windhorst introduced a bill to suspend the state's sales tax on motor fuel when the rate of inflation increases more than 3% over the previous 12-month period, according to MyJournalCourier. The second bill he introduced would cap at 18 cents per gallon, the rate of the state's sales tax that's tacked on after federal, state and local gas taxes. State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) had a plan for a $400 tax credit to all Illinois residents making less than $150,000 annually.