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.

Sales taxes up to 11.5% will greet some Cook County shoppers this holiday season. Illinois averages 8.82% in sales taxes statewide, slightly more than last year and the seventh highest nationwide.