The owner of a plumbing company in the western suburbs of Chicago says a graduated income tax would hurt his business. | File photo
The owner of a plumbing company in the western suburbs of Chicago says a graduated income tax would hurt his business. | File photo
A graduated income tax for Illinois doesn’t sit well with Chris Plywacz, a Democrat and owner of small plumbing company in the western suburbs of Chicago.
“If we don’t stop this amendment, the future for small businesses like mine is bleak,” he said in a Chicago Sun-Times opinion piece.
Illinois residents will vote on the proposed graduated income tax constitutional amendment Nov. 3. It has the support of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“What really gets me is that this initial tax hike immediately will affect more than 100,000 small business owners, but it increases the tax rate on large corporations by just 10%,” Plywacz said. “And there really is no real tax relief for working poor and middle-class families. In fact, it is less than $3 per month for someone making $25,000 a year.”
Illinois already has sky-high taxes, the business owner continued.
“...Illinois already has some of the highest taxes in the country – and we rank second highest for property taxes,” Plywacz said. “Our state already is losing people and businesses because of our high tax burden. If this constitutional amendment passes; even more people, businesses and jobs will leave our state. It’s important to note that Illinois has seen six straight years of population decline. That directly affects blue collar jobs like mine and the ones I provide.”
Plywacz started working in the plumbing trade right out of high school and purchased his company with a U.S. Small Business Administration loan during the Obama administration.
“I’m not a millionaire, nor am I a billionaire,” he said. “Far from it.”
If the amendment passes, larger companies will pay more taxes, and make it up by charging more for their products, Plywacz said.
“I will be paying more for the products I need for my plumbing company and will have to make up the difference in potentially cutting wages or even jobs – something I do not want to do,” he said.
Illinois is facing a pandemic after years of having raised taxes.
“I can’t think of a worse time to raise taxes,” Plywacz concluded.
Alerts Sign-up