North Cook News

One party control, layers of government and lack of leadership is why Illinois has one of the heaviest tax burdens in the country, according to Katie Miller.

The Mount Prospect Republican candidate running to replace retiring Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) in the 53rd District that covers Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect, responded to a Truth in Accounting survey, which ranked Illinois 49th in the country for tax burden.

“(House Speaker) Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) has been in Springfield for over 40 years and has been unchecked for all of those years,” Miller told the North Cook News regarding the ranking that comes after several years of single-party control by the Illinois Democratic Party.

Researchers from the nonprofit organization survey found the average Illinois taxpayer owes $50,400, based on 2016 government financial records, and the state has not nearly enough resources available to cover its estimated $235.9 billion in liabilities. 

“The graph showing Illinois being 49th shows how mismanaged Illinois has been. Illinois needs to have a true balanced budget. Illinois needs to look at where the money is going and make budget cuts to the bureaucracies,” Miller said.

The ranking is directly related to the volume of leadership, she said.

“Illinois is ranked poorly because our state has been mismanaged for years,” Miller said. “Our government needs to look at getting spending under control. Illinois has too many layers of government and each layer increases the number of employees for Illinois and number of pensions.”

Miller said the recent ranking can be seen in Illinois households. 

“Every time taxes increase it affects household budgets around the state,” Miller said. “I know people in Mt. Prospect who have to decrease their spending when the state increases taxes, even putting off their plans. This is why hard-working people are leaving the state, they work hard, and they can’t get ahead.”

If there were less politicians, more people would stay, or even come back, she said.

“We need a limited government structure,” Miller said. “That would decrease the tax burden for Illinois taxpayers. When tax burden decreases, it will decrease the cost of living and bring people back to Illinois.”

The wife and mother said politicians simply need to do the math.

“We need to take a hard look on where Illinois tax dollars are being spent,” Miller said, adding state spending is no different than household finances.

“Just like when families are short, they need to decide on where they need to their spend money,” Miller said. “I know when that has been the case in my family, we have had to postpone home improvements, not go on family vacations and other things.”