Illinois has the worst roads. The roads in SC remind me of the roads of Germany, they are very well maintained and pothole free.
One thing we did that infuriated TPTB is pass a constitutional amendment last November that requires that all monies collected "for Roads" (Bonds, gas taxes, etc) can only be spent on roads. There has to be a separate fund (they money can't go into the General Fund and squandered). So their hands are tied.
When you want to bitch about paying $310 for tags, it's $103 here no matter the age of the vehicle.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/basicfees.htmlWhere we get nailed in on sales tax (10% in Cook County, 8-9% in the collar counties), and property tax. My 3Bdrm, 2Bath ranch on .28 is $6,000 a year. And that's
AFTER the Disabled Veteran's and Homestead discounts. A quick search of the Milton Township assessor's website shows that my neighbors, all will fairly similar sized homes, are paying anywhere from $7,500 to $10.2k in property taxes alone.
We do have a flat 3% income tax, but TPTB want a "Grand Bargain" to raise the income tax (either to 4 or back to 5%) while they "freeze" the property tax (rates), which for those of us paying attention is a pig in poke. Yes, the rates for each taxing body are frozen, but we'll keep raising the assessed value of your home to squeeze you for more money.
Back in January 2011 they pushed through a record temporary income tax increase that raised the income tax rate on individuals to 5 percent from 3 percent, and on corporations to 7 percent from 4.8 percent. They promised that they would use the extra money to pay down the debt. The debt was around $50billion in 2011, the increase expired in 2015 and the state is now $154billion in debt.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/policy-points/illinois-31-6-billion-tax-hike-where-did-the-money-go/The only reason the tax increase expired is because Pat Quinn lost the election for governor. Had he won, he would have been dumb enough to sign legislation making it permeant. Then Speaker Madigan could pin it on Quinn and call it the "Quinn tax increase", However, Republican Bruce Rauner won. He would veto any increase, and even though Madigan and Senate President Cullerton had Super Majorities in both houses, if they overrode the Governor's veto, they would then won the increase and the D's would get killed in the next election.
But they are back at it, trying to raise the rate once again, in this "Grand Bargain" they are trying to hammer out. Meanwhile, we haven't had a budget in going on 3 years. Madigan is trying to paint it as Rauner doing this, but under our Constitution the House creates the budget. THe Governor can only make recommendations. But the Governor does have the line item veto, so that's the main reason Madigan won't send him a budget. Because Rauner has pledged to cut the pork and waste, and Madigan would have to override and then explain why spending $12 million on studying cow farts and other such bushwah is a priority.
Meanwhile life goes on with no budget.
http://www.mystateline.com/news/illinois-state-legislators-sue-to-get-paid-their-salaries/614842886