There’s a movement to balance the state’s budget by bringing in more revenue instead of cutting programs. Tuesday night, local school superintendents were joined by other community leaders at a forum at Rock Valley College to hear plans on how to “break the budget gridlock.”
Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability says there are a lot of ways the state can bring in more money -- but he wants citizens to focus on three options when they talk to their state lawmakers. First, start collecting sales taxes on services, not just goods. Second, increase the state's personal and corporate income tax rates. And third, tax some retirement income. That would only affect people who make more than 50-thousand dollars a year, and only people making more than 150-thousand dollars a year would be taxed at the full rate.
David Lloyd is with “Voices for Illinois Children.” He says the proposed changes are not out of line with what’s going on in neighboring states. For example, Illinois is the only midwestern state that does not tax any retirement income. He says that's not sustainable.
The Responsible Budget Coalition, The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford, La Voz Latina, National Alliance on Mental Illness - Northern Illinois, and a number of local school districts took part in the forum.
