Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois Statement of Principles -- 2008
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Illinois’ Tax Structure
The Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois supports a responsible tax structure imposed on the
residents of our state and the businesses and non-residents that do business in our
state. “Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes)
The state fiscal health is dependent upon our citizens having opportunities for good
jobs and their resulting consumption of goods and services. A tax structure that
encourages investment in Illinois that produces those opportunities is a prerequisite
to the state’s fiscal well being.
A state and local tax structure that is balanced between the three main sources or
revenue (property, income, and sales/excise taxes) that are commonly used by our country’s
state and local governments should be our goal. Significant reliance on a unique source of
revenue that is generally not employed in other states causes concern by investors about our
job creation and investment environment.
In addition, significant reliance on revenue streams that have little natural growth potential
to finance governmental programs that have regular inflation pressures and increased demand
due to demographic changes is not sustainable. The state should be careful not to over rely
on “no growth” potential revenue sources.
The Operating Budget
Illinois operating budget should reflect all costs of providing current services to our citizens.
This includes an actuarially required contribution of pensions and post-retirement healthcare
benefits of current employees and the amortization of prior years funding shortfalls. The budget
should not allow deferral of current vendor payments into future fiscal years.
The state should avoid new programs or expansion of existing ones until a sustainable fiscal plan
is adopted to address the unfunded pension and retiree healthcare costs incurred in prior fiscal
years. Part of that plan needs to include state employee pension and healthcare cost
containment. The appropriations for these costs should be segregated between costs associated
with services rendered in the current year by current employees from the amount that is being
appropriated for failure to set aside sufficient funds in prior years.
The state should not initiate new programs or expand access to existing programs without a
dedicated source of funding, i.e. elimination or curtailment of other programs or new revenue sources.
The Capital Budget and State Assets
The state should have a capital investment plan and budget that will assure the state’s assets are
maintained and that there is investment in new assets that are required to keep Illinois competitive
with other states for private investment and job creation.
The capital investment plan can be funded with bonds to be serviced and retired over the expected
life of the assets for which the proceeds were invested.
It is appropriate for the state to evaluate its capital assets from time to time to determine whether
the sale or other form of privatization is advisable and in the public interest.
If it is determined that the continued ownership or control of a state asset is not required for the
public interest, the proceeds from the disposition should be dedicated to the retirement of debt
(including unfunded pension and post-retirement healthcare obligations) or the reinvestment in
other capital assets. Proceeds from the disposition of an asset should not be used for operations
of existing government programs or operations.
Government Structure
Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the nation. (Latest count in
excess of 7000.) It is difficult for our citizens to know who they should hold accountable for their
local services and the associated tax burden when the functions of government are so widely
dispersed. It is not uncommon that a single piece of property is within the governmental boundaries
of 8-12 separate units of government.
The question of government efficiency comes into question with so many governmental units. The
General Assembly should continue to find ways to encourage governmental consolidation and
efficiency. At a minimum the General Assembly should not allow the creation of new special purpose
forms of local government. If a new function of government is deemed advisable it should be
incorporated into the function of existing general purpose governments. We will work with and
support iniatives to streamline our governmental structures to produce greater accountability,
efficiency, and transparency of operation and purpose.
Consolidation of governmental units is one way to obtain these goals. Intergovernmental cooperation
and operating agreements is another.
Locally controlled employee pension programs have also been underfunded. The General Assembly
should refrain from enacting any expansions of benefits before a fiscal plan is in place to address
the underfunded plans and a revenue source is identified to fund the pension expansion.
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