By: Diane Benjamin
The Illinois Policy Institute recapped the Illinois budget JB is proposing. See their story here: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-wants-to-spend-record-amount-but-needs-898m-in-tax-hikes-to-do-it/
Of course it’s a record budget that includes massive tax increases.
Pritzker made a big deal about eliminating the grocery tax:
See that last line? At the last Bloomington City Council meeting the Finance Director stated they estimate this action will cost them $3 million. Congratulate JB for giving away other people’s money.
Expect more local tax increases to compensate. Keep in mind water rates go up May 1st.
Read the article to see what tax increases will affect you if his budget is passed. Since democrats run the state and republicans have little power to stop anything, expect the worst. Also expect the exodus to continue.
Meanwhile Illinois collected $1.6 billion taxing cannabis in 2023: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/illinois-recreational-marijuana-sales-record-2023/
Local governments never show how much they are collecting.
Gambling, lottery, Healthcare, logistics, weed, poverty, removing middle class, stealing from taxpayers and long time residents and manipulating fees/local/state taxes and running and ruining every state dept system. Pritzker and family and network are “in control” and profit – don’t worry. “For the Good” (not)
Anyone that wants to leave really can. It might cost you some money and inconvenience but in the long run it’s worth it. Most reasons to stay are just an excuse.
Illinois is a blessed state! It is SAD that good citizens are being forced out by Liberal irresponsible spending. They are replaced by citizens seeking government handouts. Gog help us.
Heard from a fly on the wall that Mayor Mboka bought a house in Carmel, Indiana for his kid to play travel soccer there. Would love if you could dig into this. Seems shady for a Bloomington Mayor to have his family living in a house in another state.
Also heard it’s a lock that loser Mike Straza is running for mayor again. God help us all if that happens. I don’t buy into the whole “white privilege” thing, but unqualified nobodies like that running again and again might have me rethinking things. Can’t he just start a podcast or something? Thats seems to be what most ego-inflated, obnoxious, self-important folks in this town do when they realize no one would ever elect them.
I’ll keep my eyes on the Carmel thing. Live literally next door. That said, if the kid is good I see why he would do it even if it’s not exactly ethical. One of the owners of the Indy Eleven minor league pro soccer team just bought into Grand Park ownership in suburban Westfield, a short drive from Carmel. Plans are to feature soccer training at the indoor/outdoor facility which hosts youth league training and tournaments. Baseball, softball and soccer are featured sports while football and lacrosse will be de-emphasized. Facility used to be owned by the City of Westfield but lost money. Place is busy year round. Also, buying a house in Carmel is a great investment since it was named the safest and best city to live in America. Most homes there start at mid 300’s and go up to multi-millions. The area is continues to grow and the communities are economically diverse and run by conservatives. The houses increase in value annually everything in the north burbs. Come see for yourself. You won’t want to leave.
I was hoping you saw that. Two homestead exemptions would be priceless.
Grand Park isn’t the only such training facility, just one of many. Travel teams in all sports is a big deal here. Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and many of the burbs have places to train and compete. Grand Park is just one of the best known, especially for indoor and outdoor competitions. The area has been exploding for a while and continues to expand housing and business. It’s what BN wishes to be but will never come close.