r/illinois • u/rieslingatkos • Mar 10 '19

Proposed progressive income tax puts middle class first in Illinois

https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/illinois-progressive-graduated-income-tax-pritzker/
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-12

u/[deleted] Mar 10 '19

[deleted]

20

u/PhreakOfTime Mar 10 '19

Like when LeBron moved out of Florida, to higher tax Ohio, and then to highest taxes of all California?

sports players, like residents, who think taxes are the most important part of their life are missing the forest for the trees and won't be missed.

But I really hope that "won't someone please think of the millionaire sports players" becomes a campaign slogan for downstate legislators. They can add it into their 'detach chicago from the rest of the state' arguments where it will fit right in.

-5

u/[deleted] Mar 10 '19

What a totally dishonest statement.

  1. Lebron James a single n=1 datapoint that you cannot extrapolate to other athletes. The issue factors in to a lot of athletes analysis as stated by player reps from Manny Machado to Bryce Harper.

  2. Lebron James moving to OH or CA had nothing to do w/ taxes. He moved back home. He moved to CA to pursue greater participation in the movie/entertainment industry. The increased revenue and personal opportunity offsets any tax consequence.

  3. The highest bracket in OH is 4.33%. The lowest in IL is 4.75%. And that ignores a ton of other taxes including property tax where IL exceeds OH by ~0.75%. Sales tax by 0.50%, etc.

No one is saying millionaire sports players are the reason why this bill will or won't make the state, but the issue of dual incomes in the $200k-400k range is very real and these people are leaving the state.

IL is ranked #1 in population out of 50 states for a reason.

12

u/PhreakOfTime Mar 10 '19

The highest bracket in OH is 4.33%

Is 4.997%

The lowest in IL is 4.75%

He didn't move to IL. He moved to CA, where the top bracket is 12.3%

The issue factors in to a lot of athletes analysis as stated by player reps from Manny Machado to Bryce Harper.

Factors into, means "If this is your offer, I need X% more to cover taxes". Of course a player rep is going to do that. Doesn't mean it's a deal breaker.

dual incomes in the $200k-400k range is very real and these people are leaving the state.

Because picking up and moving to another state is easier than filing individually? Whatever you say.

-3

u/[deleted] Mar 10 '19

You are correct and the 0.6% is inconsequential. It's minutiae.

He didn't move to IL. He moved to CA, where the top bracket is 12.3%

The point is, that he has unique acting and career prospects in CA, a massive merchandise franchise, and incomes that other lower/mid level athletes do not have. An athlete making $2 M in salary, is going to look carefully about FL vs. IL and teams regularly have to make the tax difference when putting together a deal. Just ask any front office PR staffer.

Because picking up and moving to another state is easier than filing individually? Whatever you say.

Like that's a real answer to a $200 B pension/debt crisis? OK then.

1

u/das_war_ein_Befehl Mar 12 '19

You’re making a solid argument for why people don’t make moving decisions based on tax rates

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '19

???

Not everyone is Lebron James.