Committee on Workfuiii Development & Audit
March 18,2015 City Council Meeting
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS the current budgeting system in Illinois is broken and needs long-term, structural reforms to ensure stable and sustainable investments in our state's top priorities such as education, health and human services, and public safety;
WHEREAS Illinois' broken fiscal system directly impacts the residents of Chicago;
WHEREAS taking into account education, human services and local government aid , nearly 3 out of every 4 dollars in the state budget is spent in local communities;
WHEREAS Governor Bruce Rauner has proposed a budget for the State oflllinois which includes no new revenue and makes drastic cuts to the social safety net, public transportation, parks, education, healthcare, and other areas critical to the well-being of millions of people throughout our state;
WHEREAS Illinois' current income tax system is unfair to middle and low-income taxpayers;
WHEREAS over 80% of Chicagoans voting in November 2014 general election supported a referendum to chanju" the state constitution and allow graduated tax rates on income in Illinois;
WHEREAS a Fair Tax—with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes would lower taxes for the majority of Chicago residents and put more money into our local economy;
WHEREAS 34 of 41 other states that tax income have a Fair Tax;
WHEREAS absent new forms of revenue the government is forced to carry forward a policy of broad austerity which will bring with it profound impacts to working people and low-income Chicagoans,
WHEREAS we will all benefit from a tax structure that puts more money in the hands of low and middle-income families, while asking big corporations and the rich to pay their fair share; And that we can grow the middle class and bring fairness and accountability to state government on behalf ofthe citizens of Illinois; And to allow our state refocus on priorities like education, infrastructure and he...
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