Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record-setting $52.7 billion 2025 spending plan needs massive tax increases. Tax changes will hurt individuals, businesses and local governments.

Illinois is on an upward path, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his State of the State speech. True, by some measures. Not so much by too many measures that matter.

The pandemic had an upside for Illinois state finances – infusing federal dollars as state revenues exceeded projections. Now federal aid is gone. Illinoisans’ ongoing struggles warrant caution, reform in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.

Illinois businesses pay the nation’s second-highest corporate income tax rates. Chicago is considering taxing them more.