How voting “yes” on the Illinois Fair Tax Amendment helps fund critical human services

On November 3, Illinois voters have the opportunity to transition Illinois from its current regressive flat-rate income tax – which taxes a family making $25,000/year and a family making $25M/year the same rate – to a fairer, more sustainable graduate-rate income tax. If voters pass the constitutional amendment to change the state constitution to eliminate the requirement that Illinois taxes income at a single rate, the state and its citizens could see the following benefits:

• Ability to adequately fund critical services
• Less reliance on higher property taxes and cuts to schools and public services to raise revenue and save money
• Decrease the tax burden on lower and middle-class families, allowing 97% of Illinoisans to either get a tax cut or pay no more than they currently do (only those earning over $250,000/year would see an increase)
• Enable Illinois families to also see additional tax relief in the form of the expansion of the property tax credit from 5% to 6%, and the implementation of a child tax credit of up to $100

 Passage of this amendment to the Illinois Constitution would bring the State’s income tax system in line with 32 other states already using a graduated-rate tax system.

Addressing the Concerns

It should be noted that there have been some concerns that a change to the constitution might make it easier for legislators to increase the rates on middle-class families over time. However, a study by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability concluded that from 2003 to 2019 “states with graduated income taxes are more than twice as likely to cut taxes on the middle class as to raise them”. The same study found that those same states “cut taxes nearly two-and-a-half times more than they have raised them on the middle class”.

COVID-19 Has Made the Fair Tax Even More Essential 

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the near shutdown of the state’s economy that it forced, Illinois has seen a significant drop in state revenue and is projected to have a budget hole of $6.2B for this fiscal year. Now more than ever, the Fair Tax structure will be needed to preserve funding for programs and critical services like education, health care, human services, infrastructure, and more that rely on state funding and support Illinois’ families.

How YOU Can Take Action

Various organizations are participating in the Fair Tax Campaign as a way to build equity in our tax system, put the state on a path towards fiscal sustainability, and better fund social service programs for communities.  To join in advocacy efforts encouraging voters to vote YES for a Fair Tax on November 3, please see the advocacy and educational resources below: 

•  Sign a pledge card, committing to vote YES for a Fair Tax this November. 
   
• Join the Bi-Weekly Statewide Day of Action every other Wednesday to pass a Fair Tax in Illinois by asking 5 friends, family, or neighbors to support a Fair Tax. Click here for examples of texts, calls, Facebook posts, and emails you can send right now.
   
• To learn more: https://www.yesforfairtax.org/ 
   
• To endorse as an organization: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/fairtaxorgendorse
   
• To endorse as an individual: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/fairtaxendorse 
   
• To schedule an educational presentation for your organization and board: Contact Margo Gislain: mgislain@yesforfairtax.org

>> Advocacy and lobbying activities may take place during election season provided you follow the rules. Please see our list of electoral do’s and don’t for non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations for guidance!