by Jerry Riley

We all know that the cost of everything is going up. Taxes go up as cost of services go up. Taxes also go up when governments lose big tax payers. What is unfortunate is when government is responsible for losing these big tax payers.

Illinois seems to be good at it! Several years ago fees were raised on some businesses, so they moved out of state. The lost revenue has to be made up from someplace. If fees go down, I guess taxes have to go up. Illinois is again adding or raising fees. Historically businesses will leave the state so taxes of the people remaining will go up.,

Illinois learned how to do this from the federal government. More money was needed to buy more red tape, so taxes went up. It trickled down to the state level. Now the county is working hard to do the same thing.

I was reading about a gas tax increase that will take effect Jan. 1. One of those who had voted on it was astonished to find out what was in the bill. He said that the increase was included in over a thousand pages, and who has the time to read all that? I guess the people we elect don’t – and what a revoltin’ development this is!

If you have an opinion, contact your local elected representatives. And don’t forget their actions, or lack of them, at the next election.

Jerry Riley comments for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.

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