CTBA experts are available to provide insight, analysis, and data to the press on a wide range of public policy issues. In addition, CTBA disseminates new research and timely updates on policy developments to the media.
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The Illinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax Amendment—known to its supporters as the “Fair Tax Amendment”—would have restructured the state’s personal income tax from a flat rate to a graduated system that would have taxed people with greater personal income at a higher rate. If it had passed,
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Much to the dismay of Chicago progressives, the state ballot initiative to create a graduated income tax, or “fair tax,” failed on Election Day. “What’s next?” Where’s the money going to come from? Most likely, an across-the-board hike on income taxes. According to Drazzel Feliu, research
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The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget is projecting a related shortfall of some $6.5 billion in the $42 billion budget for the fiscal year that ends in June. According to CTBA, This is not a problem we can solve with relatively painless cuts — inflation-adjusted per capita state
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In an interview with Streetwise’s Suzanne Hanney, Ralph Martire explains the Fair Tax and what it means for Illinois.
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Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability discusses the graduated income tax amendment that Illinoisans will vote on in the November 2020 election.
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The Chicago Daily Herald hosted a Zoom Webinar for its executive board. Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, argued in favor of the graduated tax during a meeting with the Daily Herald editorial board. He said the graduated tax, by raising $3.6 billion from people with annual taxable income over $250,000, would be a foundation for getting public pension debt under control. Ultimately, voters will decide the fate of the graduated tax initiative Nov. 3.
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Ralph Martire is quoted saying, "Nothing in this amendment creates new legal authority to tax retirement income that doesn't exist today." Small business owners with incomes below $250,000 would see tax rates lower than the current 4.95% flat tax, giving them a break during lean years, supporters of the graduated tax argue.
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The SBAC and the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) hosted a virtual town hall regarding the ballot initiative for the proposed graduated income tax. This nonpartisan town hall offered perspectives in favor and opposition to the proposed initiative. The panel included Leslie Munger, former Deputy Governor and Comptroller of Illinois, and Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.
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On Election Day Nov. 3, Illinoisans will have the opportunity to vote on a Constitutional amendment to allow for a graduated income tax rate to replace the current flat tax applied to all wage earners.
The fear mongering and partisanship are ramping up. Don’t be hoodwinked. The graduated personal state income tax will not raise taxes but will lower them for 97% of Illinoisans.
Ask a child in grade school: should millionaires and billionaires pay the same tax rate as people working three part-time jobs earning minimum wage?
People arguing against the graduated income tax don’t have facts on their side so they manipulate numbers, cherry pick statistics and toss out fear and innuendo.
The graduated income tax is called “the fair tax.” Most states, including those surrounding Illinois have a graduated income tax.
Take advantage of fact-based reporting and research when determining how you will vote. Don’t be misled by these recent blurbs from headlines: “let Illinois crash and burn” and “worst possible time to raise taxes.”
Instead, go to the not-for-profit Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and read the research: States with graduated income taxes are more than twice as likely to cut taxes than to raise them:
https://budgetblog.ctbaonline.org/states-with-graduated-income-taxes-are-more-than-twice-as-likely-to-cut-taxes-as-to-raise-them-67a9603a96f7
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The Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois hosted CTBA Executive Director and Roosevelt University Professor of Public Policy for an online presentation about the state budget and what a fair tax means for Illinoisans.