Illinois Gas Tax

[rk911]

So, aside from the great weather, and maybe inertia...what is keeping people in Illinois?

Oh wait...I just looked at some real estate sites, and the price of housing seems quite cheap compared with what I am used to.

lots of good things about Illinois...weather, taxes, corruption, condition of roads, taxes, corruption...wait. I meant to list the good things. its like most people...our friends and family are here. we do try to spend the winters elsewhere.

 

[Ronstar]

So, aside from the great weather, and maybe inertia...what is keeping people in Illinois?

Oh wait...I just looked at some real estate sites, and the price of housing seems quite cheap compared with what I am used to.

Throw in jobs and families...

Jobs and families have to be the only things keeping people here. DW's friends are leaving in droves. One is moving to Oregon in a week or so and leaving her husband here to sell their house before he gets to leave. Others are buying a house in Michigan and moving there before they put their Illinois house up for sale.

 

[ERD50]

my hometown recently replaced all residential analog electric meters with new digital meters. after the replacement ComEd (our electric supplier) started sending me monthly 'shame-on-you' notices telling me much the same...that I was using a lot more energy than my neighbors and I need to conserve. funny thing is that everyone I spoke to..neighbors and friends in diffrent parts of town and in different towns who had the same smart meters...were getting the same message. all of them were being told that they were using waaaay more energy than their neighbors. I find that to either be an incredible coincidence or ComEd was fibbing. either way I finally told ComEd to stop sending those monthly notices. I use what I use and am happy I can afford it.

I got those same reports long before they switched us to the smart meter. It is based on your usage, whether reported by the smart meter or by a human meter reader.

We are consistently in the "most energy efficient" quintile, and we are careful , but not crazy about it. We still have lots of those old Edison style bulbs (have replaced most of the high use ones though), etc. You must hang out with the same flock of energy hogs (to mix metaphors


-ERD50

 

[NW-Bound]

So, aside from the great weather, and maybe inertia...what is keeping people in Illinois?

Oh wait...I just looked at some real estate sites, and the price of housing seems quite cheap compared with what I am used to.

Don't underestimate the power of inertia.

It's what keeps people from leaving areas with high unemployment to go where there are jobs.

It's what keeps me in the "Valley of the Sun" for decades, where I complain about summer heat every year, and where I will die.

 

[CRLLS]

Generally, in Illinois, the name of a tax or the original intent of the tax is completely disassociated from where the money is spent......... at least after a few years go by. It really hasn't mattered what the pols say when a tax is initiated or increased. Later they spend the revenue (and likely some multiple of the revenue) as they please.

True, But I hope change is in the wind. I generally look at the dark side of things. I'm more inclined to lean toward the middle lately, Time will tell. I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again. It may hurt in the short term. It probably will hurt in the long term. It can't go on like it was.

 

[CRLLS]

Family keeps us here. So does inertia. Now that we are retired, our income tax was zero, except for claimed use tax on internet purchases.

 

[NW-Bound]

Generally, in Illinois, the name of a tax or the original intent of the tax is completely disassociated from where the money is spent......... at least after a few years go by. It really hasn't mattered what the pols say when a tax is initiated or increased. Later they spend the revenue (and likely some multiple of the revenue) as they please.

Is it true only in Illinois? People's memory is very short. In just a month, they will forget all about what was said. Politicians know this, and always use it to their advantage.

 

[Telly]

Family, great neighbors, the University of Illinois-CU (lots to do in this town and we're alumni),....

But, but... Second Chance burned down one of those below-zero nights and wasn't rebuilt, and and Chief Illiniwek is dead!

 

[rk911]

I got those same reports long before they switched us to the smart meter. It is based on your usage, whether reported by the smart meter or by a human meter reader.

We are consistently in the "most energy efficient" quintile, and we are careful , but not crazy about it. We still have lots of those old Edison style bulbs (have replaced most of the high use ones though), etc. You must hang out with the same flock of energy hogs (to mix metaphors


-ERD50

well, i've replaced the incandescent bulbs with LEDs in those fixtures that are on at night..all exterior lights (dusk to dawn) and the interior lights that are on timers. i have yet to run across an CFL or LED that delivers on its promise of longevity. we're not careful by any means and aren't bothered by that. we never saw those shame-on-you reports until the new digital meters.

 

[rk911]

Is it true only in Illinois? People's memory is very short. In just a month, they will forget all about what was said. Politicians know this, and always use it to their advantage.

yup. that or the political class have committed lies of omission as with the lottery saving our schools. we were led to believe that the lottery was the savior of schools. what was omitted that for every dollar the lottery raised for schools a dollar was removed from schools and used for something else. lottery money was not s much new money as it was replacement money. lies of omission. corruption. an epidemic in illinois.

- in the last few weeks one former chicago alderman wore a wire for the feds to gather evidence on another current alderman

- and a third current alderman has just had her offices raided by the feds.

- a fourth former alderman was just convicted in federal court but has had the nerve to ask for a light sentence because, and i paraphrase..."harsh sentences have not had the desired effect of acting as a deterrent!!".

- four sitting governors sentenced to prison, three in the very recent past.

- our current billionaire-governor got caught cheating on his property tax by literally ripping out all of the toilets in one of his personal residences and then claiming a deduction on the property tax due to the house being unfit for human habitation. when caught he suffered no penalty other than having to pay back the deduction. that all happebed during his campaign for gov...and he was elected otherwise!!

i could go on but why bother. nothing changes.

 

[retired1]

This article indicates Illinois gas tax just doubled and will be indexed to inflation going forward. Given this and other high taxes, it's no wonder many have left or are planning to do so:https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-gasoline-tax-doubles-today/

Yeah that sucks. I'll be going over the border (extra 10 miles) to get savings of approx ~0.20/g or more. Higher income taxes are coming too. IL wants to dig out of debt on the backs of taxpayers instead of making policy changes and cutting budget. Plan to leave the state

 

[Spanky]

It was a good thing that we filled up the tank at Madison, WI yesterday (July 3). The gas price was $2.45. The gas price went up to $3.25 at Northbrook, IL. It's unbelievable!

BTW - the toll to Chicago was more than $6! Some exits do not have attendants. It's so inconvenient to pay by coins or credit cards.

 

[GenXguy]

To the last person leaving Illinois, don't forget to turn out the lights.

 

[statsman]

To the last person leaving Illinois, don't forget to turn out the lights.

Or just don't pay the electricity bill. The lights will be taken care of.


I would like to believe we get the government we elect, but most would deny having elected the [-]politicians[/-] criminals.

 

[VanWinkle]

So, aside from the great weather, and maybe inertia...what is keeping people in Illinois?

Oh wait...I just looked at some real estate sites, and the price of housing seems quite cheap compared with what I am used to.

Did you look in Chicago?

 

[VanWinkle]

Is it true only in Illinois? People's memory is very short. In just a month, they will forget all about what was said. Politicians know this, and always use it to their advantage.

They know that Chicago will keep voting them into office no matter how much they tax everyone.

 

[Amethyst]

Chicago suburbs of Batavia and Schaumburg - where we know some people. I've never actually been there.

Did you look in Chicago?

 

[Spanky]

Did you look in Chicago?

Check out the property tax rate also -- 2.009% in Cook County.

 

[CRLLS]

Check out the property tax rate also -- 2.009% in Cook County.

If that is so, that's pretty low by comparison to those around them. From what I see, the collar counties are closer to 3% of fair market value.

 

[jldavid47]

Thank you! I'll happily spend a few extra $$ for a financially stable Illinois. This is my home. I want better roads and bridges. Illinois is making major changes in policy. Something had to be done. Can only hope for the best.

You will never have a financially stable Illinois. There are too many votes to buy using taxpayer money.


We left Illinois in 2014 and have ZERO regrets.

 

[jldavid47]

.

- four sitting governors sentenced to prison, three in the very recent past.

There are 3 types of governors in Illinois: Those who have been to prison, those who are in prison, and those who will be in prison in the future.

 

[Spanky]

If that is so, that's pretty low by comparison to those around them. From what I see, the collar counties are closer to 3% of fair market value.

Wow - it's amazing.

 

[Ready-4-ER-at-14]

If you have home owners exemption and senior exemptions and aggressively appeal increases you can keep it pretty low. This years ours is <2% but we had some credits from past deductions not credited. Almost every appeal gets something, especially if you use a lawyer.

It seems that the politicians allow people who appeal the taxes a little slack. Probably smart as these people notice the taxes and are willing to act to keep it in check.
Act could mean move home and possibly business, to aggressively support a different politician, of even something more shady to regain income felt taken improperly.

 

[athena53]

New York and New Jersey do have some kind of tax if you move out of state . It is tied to the state income tax somehow.

This isn't quite what you cited above, but here's what NJ pulled after I left. Joined a new company in 2002, working from home in NJ. Relocated to KS, same employer, in mid-2003. I got a bonus in April, 2004. NJ taxes were withheld on half of it. HR explained that since the bonus was based on my work in 2003, NJ had a claim on half of it. Infuriating, but nothing I could do.

But, back to the OT- I agree that they won't get as much as anticipated as people reduce driving and buy across state lines to the extent they can. Same thing happens when cigarette taxes are increased- people who can do it quit smoking.

 

[samcat]

I recently drove from California to Memphis. Spent the night in Needles by the Arizona border. Granted Needles is in the middle of nowhere but was going to get gas and decided to compare prices. Can't remember exactly the prices but Page Arizona just across the border was about $1.50 cheaper than Needles California. Of course, Page is pretty far from everything also so I'm assuming a lot of the difference is because of California's high gas taxes.