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 Illinois’ out-migration crisis is a
problem throughout the Land of Lincoln, and the state’s largest cities are not
immune.
More than a third of Illinois cities with a population more than 50,000 have
been declining in population since 2010. The largest drops were in Decatur,
which lost 4.5 percent of its population from 2010-2016, and Rockford, which
lost more than 3 percent.
The losses came in larger towns
across the state – from Cook and the collar counties down to central and
southern Illinois. Given that states experience natural population gains from
births outweighing deaths and people immigrating to America from overseas, it’s
likely that Illinois’ domestic migration woes are plaguing many of these areas.
 Specifically, 22 of the 29 cities over 50,000 in population are in Cook and the
collar counties, with just under half seeing a population drop in the 2010-2016
timeframe.
Berwyn, Cicero, Waukegan, Skokie, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines, Hoffman Estates and Oak
Park, all lost population; while Chicago, Evanston, Joliet, Arlington Heights,
Wheaton, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Elgin, Orland Park, Mount Prospect, Tinley Park,
Schaumburg, Palatine and Naperville all saw gains, though many small. From
2015-2016 alone, these population losses have hampered Cook and the collar
counties. All six counties – Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will –
experienced net out-migration from July 2015 to July 2016.
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These counties also have
something else in common: They pay the highest property taxes in the
state and among the highest property taxes in the nation. Lake and
DuPage counties pay the highest and second highest property taxes in
the state and are both among the top 30 in the country. McHenry,
Kane, Will and Cook are also all top 10 in the state, and in the 67
highest in the country.
These high property
taxes drive up the state’s overall tax burden, which is one of the
highest in the nation, And Illinois’ tax burden was only intensified
by the 32 percent income tax hike lawmakers passed into law in July.
But taxpayers have made it no secret that tax policy is one of the
biggest drivers of out-migration from Illinois. A 2016 Paul Simon
Institute poll found that taxes were the No. 1 reason people chose
for wanting to leave Illinois, and that 47 percent of registered
voters in Illinois would like to leave, with 20 percent saying at
the time they were likely to leave in the next year.
With one of the highest tax burdens in the country and politicians
refusing to make necessary economic reforms, it is tough to blame
residents looking for greener pastures. If the growing exodus of
Illinoisans actually troubles Springfield, they should work on
easing the state’s high tax burden, which include some of the
highest property taxes in the nation, and enact pro-growth reforms
that will convince people to come to and stay in Illinois – not
leave.
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