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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-2014-034-R-145/1 /14 34-R-14 A RESOLUTION The City of Evanston's Support For a State Income Tax Extension WHEREAS, In 2011, the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Patrick Quinn took the bold measure to approve a temporary increase to the personal and corporate income tax as part of an effort to close the State's budget gap and stabilize the State's economy; and WHEREAS, The new tax money was used to balance the State's annual budget and pay the backlog of unpaid bills to organizations that provide services to the State who had not been reimbursed for several months; and WHEREAS, In 2015, the temporary tax income tax increase is set to expire. The expiration of the tax increase will reduce State revenues from the income tax by $4.7 billion by 2016; and WHEREAS, Cuts this year would total just over $450 million affecting schools, socials services, and municipalities; and WHEREAS, Without the continuation of current tax revenues, there will be devastating funding cuts to a wide range of public services. Public services affected include cuts to low-income and youth programs, health departments, general aid to schools, other critical social services and funding to municipalities through, the Local Government Distributive Fund; and WHEREAS, Illinois has one of the highest property tax burdens on homeowners in the nation —more than 20 percent above the national average. Letting r 34-R-14 the temporary tax increase expire could cause communities to raise property taxes and increase this burden even further; and WHEREAS, In Governor Patrick Quinn's March budget address he outlined his five-year fiscal blueprint which calls on the on the State to maintain the income tax increase to secure Illinois' long-term financial future. NOW BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT: SECTION 1: The Evanston City Council supports maintaining the temporary income tax increase and urges the Illinois General Assembly to pass measures to prevent the expiration of the income tax increase in 2015. SECTION 2: That the foregoing recitals are hereby found as fact and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 2: This Resolution 34-R-14 shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law. J Eli a eth B. Tisdahl, Mayor Atte RodKey Green M , City erk Adopted: I k a , 2014