Chicago’s 2025 budget is facing a nearly $1 billion gap. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to close it: increase taxes. The city’s rising non-personnel costs, now at $6.6 billion, will outpace its grant funding, squeeze taxpayers and increase regressive fees.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ would raise Illinois business taxes to the highest in the nation as neighboring Indiana cuts taxes to draw businesses across the border.

Illinois politicians are already talking about taxing retirees, adding “surcharges” and city income taxes if they can convince voters to abandon the Illinois Constitution’s flat tax protection and give lawmakers greater taxing power.

Delivered on Jan. 31, 2018.