|
 Gas prices have skyrocketed by nearly 50%
nationwide, with the average U.S. price of $4.33 a gallon the highest ever
recorded.
But it is worse in Illinois, where drivers pay more for gas than the national
average or than their neighbors. Illinois’ average gas price May 9 reached $4.59
– the most expensive gas in the Midwest, and ninth nationally.
Illinois is less than a dime away from seeing the highest average gas price ever
recorded: $4.68 in 2012.
The price of diesel in Illinois set an all-time high May 9 of $5.25. Zach
Meiborg, who owns Meiborg Trucking in Rockford, has felt the impact.
“All together, we paid $2.9 million dollars in state and federal gas taxes last
year. We pay more than our fair share,” Meiborg said.
As a result, the Meiborgs are moving their family – and possibly their entire
business – to a state where there’s more respect for the family finances.
“Whether it’s school boards, local municipalities or the bloated state
bureaucracy, we no longer see Illinois as a state where we will choose to
flourish. In the next few weeks, we’re relocating to Houston and considering
eventually moving our headquarters out of Illinois as well.”
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Illinois has had the second-highest motor fuel taxes in the nation since Gov.
J.B. Pritzker doubled them to 38 cents per gallon from 19 cents in 2019. As if
that weren’t enough, his $45 billion capital plan implemented automatic annual
gas tax increases expected to raise the tax to over 45 cents in a little more
than a year.
Pritzker’s answer to rampant inflation and high gas prices is temporary relief
that expires shortly after the election. Instead of lowering the motor fuel tax,
he thinks it’d be better to simply delay the annual gas tax hike.
Since Pritzker took office, the average family’s tax bill has grown by $2,721.
That same family will only save $556 temporarily under Pritzker’s “relief” plan.
Permanent tax relief is only possible through pension reform. Government
pensions eat 26% of Illinois’ budget – the most in the nation – yet the state
has shorted the funds an estimated $313 billion. Amending the Illinois
Constitution to reduce future growth in pension liabilities would open the door
to $2.4 billion in tax savings the first year and over $50 billion by 2045,
while fully eliminating the state’s pension debt.
It’s the relief that would keep families such as the Meiborgs from moving to
another state.
“Neither my family nor my employees will be the ones left without a chair when
the music stops playing here in Illinois,” Meiborg said. |
