Metro East Sun

Kevin Schmidt, candidate to representat the 114th House District, recently weighed in on the issue of high taxes in Illinois.

Schmidt criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s management of federal COVID relief funds and PPP loans, accusing him of using the money to fund ineffective temporary tax relief measures for publicity purposes.

"I am disgusted by how our leaders are using taxpayer money to help with their re-election," Schmidt told Metro East Sun. "The Governor with the support of my opponent decided to use the relief funds to pay for temporary tax relief measures that accomplish little but give them the appearance of doing something to tackle inflation. It is dishonest and does nothing to help working families."

Schmidt is running as a Republican against incumbent Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) for the seat.

Illinois' property tax rate is the second highest in the nation at 2.27%, behind only New Jersey, according to a June report by Rocket Mortgage. The owner of a $194,500 home in Illinois will pay $4,942 annually in property taxes. Thirty states have property tax rates lower than 1%.

"Property taxes are too high. My opponent has done nothing to help lower property taxes in Illinois and in fact by voting to increase spending, she has made it nearly impossible to lower taxes. We must reduce spending so that we can give Illinois residents the tax breaks they deserve." Schmidt said.

Pritzker doubled Illinois' gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, according to Fox News. Pritzker also instituted an annual gas tax increase. Illinois Democrats passed legislation postponing this year's scheduled gas tax increase of 2.2 cents from July to January, Fox News reported.

The gas tax increase delay was part of a bundle of tax rebates and delays in the record $46.5 billion FY 23 budget, according to Illinois Policy. The tax rebates and delays will save the average Illinois family $556. The 2.2 cents increase to the gas tax will take effect January 2023, and will be followed by another increase in July 2023, likely of 3.8 cents per gallon, bringing Illinois' total gasoline tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.

Schmidt criticized the move as a "gimmick" that would do little to help Illinois families overall. 

"Saving a few pennies at the pump is not real tax relief," Schmidt said. "These token gestures are doing little to lower the price of food or gas in any real way. We need real, long-term tax relief and we need it now."

A March report by WalletHub found that Illinois has the tenth overall highest tax burden in the nation at 9.7%. The report weighed property taxes, income taxes, and sales and excise taxes.