Why Are the Taxes So High in This State? (Chicago: crime, home)

[Vlajos]

Sure.

[linicx]

Tax rates in Cook County are a whole lot different than than are in Johnson County and so is the quality of life. You cannot compare apples to oranges unless they fall from the same tree.

You want lower taxes in Chicago? This is how they do it in other states. Close aging hospitals, aging schools, aging libraries aging police stations and firestations, close aging museums and most city parks, close beaches and don't repair roads or sidewalks as often as needed. Consolodate city services in one building; furlough one day per week and cut hours. Trains and buses will run less frequebtly and stop at midnight. Only remove snow on necessary major through ways. Don't sent police on nuisance calls. Don't send police to direct traffic for turnerals or ballgames. Issue more tickets, boot more cars. Close public bathrooms, remove benches and picnic tables. Remove playground equipment in parks. Remove water fountains. Turn off Buckingham fountain. Do not allow festivals or parades. Just think of all the money the city can save. by cutting services, closing buildings and reducing the city payroll. It is a time honored recipe to save tax payer money and reduce relestate taxes.

Don't pour sand in a rat hole and expect exotic flowers.

[knitgirl]

People also forget that income taxes in IL are still lower than in most states, so they have to make up for it with property taxes and sales taxes.

[linicx]

If you are going to compare then you must have two or more subjects that are similar to comare. Forget MSA. IL has 13M people and Chicago. To compare it you need another state with 13M and one single city with between two and three million residents. Then compare.

[chicago103]

Property taxes are still lower in Chicagoland than they are in much of the northeast, in particular NYC metro so if you want to live in a very large metropolitan area Chicago is still a bargain. Also in Chicagoland it depends a lot exactly where you live even within the city of Chicago itself, for instance the south side tends to have cheaper housing and property tax rates than the north side. My dad owns both the house that he lives in in Will County and the house I live in currently in the city near Midway Airport and he keeps talking about how good city residents have it compared to those living in the suburbs when it comes to property taxes. Granted he is basing that on this part of the city, not what people pay in Wrigleyville, but then again in Wrigleville the houses are much more expensive thus the tax is more.

Also income taxes, if you live and work in New York City between the New York State taxes PLUS the CITY INCOME TAX the average person is paying like 10% before they even get to federal income tax, makes our 5% seem outright cheap not to mention the cost of housing and living overall is lower in Chicago than NYC. Now if big city living is not something you want at all and are just fine with living in a small city or rural area in downstate Illinois than obviously Illinois has less advantages over a state like Indiana.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by bellypotamus

We just moved here to Illinois from Indiana because of my husband losing his job and getting one over here.(His job is in Rantoul to be exact...but I DON'T want to live in Rantoul!) We are suffering from great sticker shock on the price of homes (especially newer ones) and the taxes here are astronomical here in Champaign county area. Can anyone explain this to me? We lived in a very nice area in Indy (Hamilton County) and the homes were much more reasonably priced, and the taxes were much lower than here. I just don't get it! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Can you explain what tax your comparing
income-state
do you have a local income tax to your county or city in indiana
sales
property

list your old tax and your new illinois tax
curious what the diff is

[linicx]

We just moved here from blah, blah, blah and the taxes are horrible. Poor, poor, pitiful plea. It is an excellent way for a troll to get everyone wound up again. Most of the people who whine about taxes:
1- Do not ilve in Illinois
2- Do not live in a state with 13M people
3- Do not have 102 Counties; may not have any counties.
3a- Does not have a massive 4-lane intrastate system that criss-cross the state.
3b- Do have the roads that carry the amount of traffic IL roads do.
3c- Do not have major waterways or floods.
3d- Do not have a large illegal population
3e- Do Not have a large statewide park system.
3f- Do Not have a large prison system
4- Do not EXPORT products valued at $60B annually.
5- Do not offer state paid services to seniors and handicappedchildren.
6- DO live in a Right-To-Work state. .
6b- DO pay personal property taxes on cars, boats, farm equipment, trucks, trailers, mobile homes, motocycles, off-road motorized sport vehicles, swimming pool and classic vehicles. There was a time when toilets, TVs, telephones and washers were taxed too.
7- DO pay vehicle plate (tags) fees based on FOB*price. (Higher than Illinois)
8- Do pay a higher grocery tax (I*paid 9%), and may also double tax pet food

Been there, done that; have the shirt to prove it. However, I have not lived in every sted in the U.S.. Generally*speaking states that have loooow real taxes offer few services. Medical*facilities, QOL, road maintenance,*family activities*and entertainment, satellite colleges, health standards and homeland security is lacking. Very often the COL is not that different from Illinois (excepting Chicago)*at the end of the year when you factor in groceries, utilites, personal property taxes, etc.. There is no bargain state. The grass is not greener; its a mirage.

[pvande55]

Illinois has more units of government than any other State, even California. And many have highly paid officials. One Township road commissioner was paid $100K for overseeing 45 miles of roadway. By contrast another township abolished the position and didn't miss it. And now indicted Gov. Blagojevich expanded government without the revenue to pay for it. Now we are paying the price.

[linicx]

We are also paying for a legislature that let a two term Governor live in Chicago and fly to Springfield every day in a state owned plane. Too many state services are duplicated, but with 2/3 of the population in Chicago it cannot all be eliminated. I don't see why we need tourism offices in Chicago and Springfield, for instance. It belongs in Chicago.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by bellypotamus

We just moved here to Illinois from Indiana because of my husband losing his job and getting one over here.(His job is in Rantoul to be exact...but I DON'T want to live in Rantoul!) We are suffering from great sticker shock on the price of homes (especially newer ones) and the taxes here are astronomical here in Champaign county area. Can anyone explain this to me? We lived in a very nice area in Indy (Hamilton County) and the homes were much more reasonably priced, and the taxes were much lower than here. I just don't get it! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Then move to Indiana the land with no mass transit
DO you realize how many of Indiana people come into Illinois for our amenities .
Funny too why does your husband not take a job in Indiana why did he choose to work in Illinois
Here you are complaining about a state that provides for you and your family

Get real and grow up
You cant have it both ways
If you like living on the cheap with cheap roads, infrastructure, basically a lower quality of life then go back to Indiana - Illinois is not for you