Dist 300 Tax Hikers' Cost-Benefit Aptitude

The folks at Advance 300 don’t seem to have a clue about the geo-political dynamics of Springfield politics. But they are back on the internet after a hiatus.

They have been pushing for Ralph Martire’s shell game, which will raise and broaden income and sales taxes, promising a cut in property taxes. (This group of tax hikers gave his tax hiking group $10,000.)

What they don’t understand is that District 300 residents have a higher income level than those living in Meadowdale.

Good ol’ Ralph is interested in income redistribution and high-income areas like District 300's Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, the Dundees, new Carpentersville and polints west in Kane County WILL NOT BE WINNERS.

And, there is a second problem.

Anyone with a brain ought to be able to figure out that business pays a higher percentage of the property tax than corporations do of the income tax. A quick check with the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability got me the most recent figures.

Residential properties paid 61% of the total $18,967,874,308 in real estate taxes. as of 2003.

Farms pay 3%, mines less than 1/10th of 1%, business other than industrial 25%, industrial 10%, railroads 2/10th of 1%.

While business pays a huge share of real estate taxes --41%-- business only paid 15.7% of the income tax in Fiscal Year 2006. (I say “only” because I remember in the early 1970’s when business paid over 20% of the total.)

But, my guess is nothing will be able to penetrate the District 300 tax hikers’ mindset.

What does it matter if business has a lower tax burden and homeowners have a higher tax burden?

What does it matter that there will be a huge tax shift from business to people?

After all, it’s for the kids, right?

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Our kitten doesn't care that Advance 300 is back on the internet. And, it occurs to me that “We are District 300” is pretty much what the teachers’ spokesman said at the teacher-packed school board meeting. "My name is Steven Pittner and I am District 300," was the dramatic conclusion of his speech.

Posted 1st on McHenry County Blog, where new articles show up on the weekend.