More McHenry County Blog

On page 1, The AFSCME querstionnaire asks about staffing, that is, “understaffing at state agencies” and money.

Find out how these union folks turn a 40% income tax hike into a “tax relief package” by clicking here.

To no one’s surprise the union is not happy that Blagojevich has outdone 23 years of Republican governors in cutting the state payroll significantly.

In fact, AFSCME says Illinois has the lowest ratio of state employees to population in the country—down 16% since 2001. (In 2001, of course, George Ryan was governor and, instead of increasing the state budget, he actually cut it, something successor Blagojevich has not managed to do since then. He just hasn’t put the money in employees.)

The union points to “inadequate staffing” in the Department of Corrections leading “to a growing number of violent incidents and fewer manned posts in the prison system.” At the Department of Human Services (didn’t that used to be Public Aid), “caseloads are up 95% since 2000, delaying urgently needed income supports for needy families.” Complaint is also made about “short-staffing” of mental health and developmental disabilities facilities.

In a sentence:

…There are not enough staff for agencies to meet their obligations to the people of Illinois.

So,

Would you support adequate funding to ensure that state agencies have enough frontline staff to provide vital public services?

No estimate of how many tens or hundreds of millions of dollars that is, of course.

Now, to pay for what we want, follow our logic:

Illinois’ tax system is broken. Out state is facing a structural deficit that cannot be economic growth or belt tightening. The current budget was balanced only by borrowing from the pension fund, a move that will increase public costs in the long run. We have the 47th lowest tax and fee burden compared to other states, and a lower income tax than any of our neighboring states. The sales tax is full of special interest exemptions and excludes services, the fastest growing part of the economy. State lawmakers will have to make a choice between finding new revenue and cutting basic services that are highly valued by the public. Many cities and counties are also facing a budget crisis, and desperately need additional help from the state to avoid cuts to basic services.

And, F I N A L L Y, the question:

Would you support a revenue and tax relief (sic) package similar to HB 750(2005), which raises the income tax (offset with a tax credit for most families) and broadens the sales tax to include services, while providing property tax relief, funding for schools, and a solution to the structural deficit?

This is a “tax relief package?”

Only a group of tax eaters dedicated to getting a large a share of the gross state product as possible could possible consider a 40% income tax high and taxing internet, lawn and every other kind of service one can imagine—except the politically power doctors and lawyers, of course—would dare call this tax relief.

The question could have been shorter:

“Will you vote for a massive tax hike?”

To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.