McHenry Times

In an open letter to the General Assembly, 65 local government officials, including five in McHenry County, asked state legislators to block attempts to scrap the state’s flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax structure.

“We ask that you pledge not to support a constitutional change that would allow for this tax structure, and that you sign on to House Resolution 891 or Senate Resolution 1590 declaring such intentions this year and beyond,” the letter stated.

Local officials who signed the letter include:

– Glenda L. Miller, McHenry County Treasurer

– Colonel Craig Wilcox, McHenry County Board

– Thomas Wilbeck, McHenry County Board

– Chuck Wheeler, McHenry County Board

– Michael Skala, McHenry County Board

The letter provides a list of reasons elected officials oppose such a change to the state tax structure, including the burden of a 32 percent tax hike that passed a year ago. Local officials said they oppose a change to the constitution because it would remove roadblocks that keep lawmakers from raising taxes to fix every budget problem.

“There is little trust that lawmakers will set fair tax rates for all citizens of Illinois,” the letter states. “Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, with state spending growing 25 percent faster than personal incomes from 2005 to 2015.”

The letter also points to the impact a change could have on businesses in the state.

“The flat tax is one of the few remaining competitive advantages of Illinois, with surrounding states passing effective workers’ compensation laws, better business policies and lower property taxes,” it stated.

“Our community’s small businesses would be hurt drastically,” it continued. “The National Federation of Independent Business states that pass-through businesses earning income of as little as $225,000 would see a 9.15 percent tax rate, based upon legislation filed in the House.”

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Local officials opposing graduated income tax

Name	Position
Scott Gryder	Kendall County Chairman
James Niemann	Effingham County Board Chairman
David Campbell	Effingham County Vice Chairman
Don Munson	Douglas County Board Chairman
Jefferey Beckman	Fayette County Board Chairman
Emily Davenport	Logan County Board Vice Chairman
Brandon Behlke	Jo Daviess County Vice Chairman
Steve Weber	Will County Treasurer
Glenda L. Miller	McHenry County Treasurer
Curtis P. Newport	Boone County Board Treasurer
Lori Werden	Grundy County Treasurer
Robert Watt	Jefferson County Treasurer
Kathy L. Tate	Warren County Treasurer
Gary Farha	Adams County States Attorney
Andrew Doyle	Warren County States Attorney
Jim Reed	Sheriff of Bureau County
Mark Styninger	Washington County Coroner
Rich Hill	Mayor of Round Lake Beach
Steve Morley	Mayor of Elmhurst
Martin Tully	Mayor of Downers Grove
Steve T. Nero	Trustee Village of Westmont
Stephen Henley	Mayor of Volo
Rhett Taylor	Mayor Village of Grayslake
Colonel Craig Wilcox	McHenry County Board
Thomas Wilbeck	McHenry County Board
Chuck Wheeler	McHenry County Board
Michael Skala	McHenry County Board
Tom Glenn	Douglas County Board
Michael A. Madison	Madison County Board Member
Amy Grant	DuPage County Board Member
Tonia Khouri	DuPage County Board Member
Sean Noonan	DuPage County Board Member
Gary Grasso	DuPage County Board Member
Michael Manzo	Oak Brook Trustee
James D. Futrell	Madison County Board Member
John A. Slagel	Livingston County Board Member
Gregory A. Mattingley	Macon County Board Member
David Michael	Madison County Board Member
Charles Thomas	Lee County Board Member
Thomas Madonia Jr	Sangamon County Board Member
Robert Pollard	Madison County Board Member
Brent Milburn	Mayor of Mt. Auburn
John Schultz	Jo Daviess County Board Member
Chuck Venvertloh	Adams County Clerk/Recorder
Rita Hagen	Calhoun County Clerk
LaDon Trost	Jo Daviess County Board Member
Chad McGinnis	Iroquois County Board Member
Michael A. Danforth	Lake County Board Member
Ron Mitchell	Mayor of Crainville
Marilyn L. Neumeyer	Swansea Village Trustee
Dale Anderson	Bureau County Chairman
Jon Sandage	McLean County
Kathy L. Tate	Warren County Treasurer
Dave Greenlief	Warren County Board Member
Mark Miller	Marion County Supervisor of Assessments
Cory Singer	Will County Board Member
Brian M. Gabor	Pontiac City Alderman
Jan Carter Niccum	Savoy Village Trustee
Richard Hein	Douglas County Board member
Daryle Coleman	Fulton County Democratic Chairman
Alan McDowell	Fayette County Democrat Chairman
Chad Kunkel	Member Brown County Board
Rickey Williams Jr	Danville Alderman
Dale Berman	North Aurora Mayor
Steven Holtkamp	Columbia Alderman