Illinois voters reject over 60% of direct tax increases on the ballot
35 questions authorizing new taxes or tax increases failed.
Illinois voters rejected a clear majority of the 56 ballot questions across the state authorizing increases to property or sales taxes.
Property taxes
At least 52 questions on whether to increase property taxes were on ballots in Illinois, either by authorizing a property tax levy increase or approving an entirely new levy.
Places where property tax hikes were on the ballot included nine fire protection districts, six school districts, the Bourbonnais and Fondulac library districts, the Herrin Park District and Antioch Township. Voters rejected 30 of those proposed increases.
Sales taxes
Six questions asked whether to approve a new or increased sales tax. Adams, Crawford, Lake and Tazewell all rejected a new 1% sales tax that would have provided additional funding for public school facilities. Crawford County also rejected a new 1% sales tax on tangible personal property, the revenues from which would have gone to public safety.
Residents in the village of Coulterville approved doubling the municipal sales tax from 0.5% to 1%.
Most Illinoisans rank taxes as one of the top issues facing the state. When it came to ballot questions on direct taxes, the message from voters was loud and clear: Illinois is taxed enough.