It’s been two weeks since taxes were due, so the feeling about paying our fair share or an unfair burden still nags. But an analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data shows that area residents in a representative sampling of 18 downstate communities contributed substantial sums to fund state government.
It’s tempting to think Illinoisans don’t get our dollars’ worth – until we notice highways and bridges, disaster relief and State Police, education and much more most of us take for granted (or think we could do better if we had Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s thankless job juggling the state’s checkbook).
The most recent Department of Revenue (DOR) breakdown by zip codes of adjusted gross income tax paid shows that Aledo postal customers filed 2,485 tax returns reporting a community total of $124,357,359 in adjusted gross income. Aledo taxpayers’ average income was $50,043 and average state taxes paid were $1,953.
The income adjustments, of course, can depend on deduction for home ownership, education/training expenses and a low income to start with. People who rent can’t deduct property taxes; taxpayers who are done with their own or their kids’ education can’t write off college costs; folks who work minimum-wage jobs with children may qualify for earned-income tax credits.
Still, it’s interesting to compare our community contributions. The rest of area zip-code communities, alphabetically, show:
Canton postal customers filed 6,895 tax returns reporting a total of $304,575,498 in adjusted gross income. Canton taxpayers’ average income was $44,173 and average state taxes paid were $1,613.
Chillicothe taxpayers filed 5,270 tax returns reporting a total of $298,815,171 in adjusted gross income. Their average income was $56,701 and average state taxes paid were $2,154.
East Peorians filed 11,838 tax returns reporting a total of $652,490,780 in adjusted gross income. Taxpayers there had an average income of $55,118 and paid an average of $2,076 in state taxes.
Eureka postal customers filed 2,787 tax returns reporting a total of $174,873,234 in adjusted gross income. Eureka taxpayers’ average income was $62,746 and average state taxes paid were $2,468.
Fairbury residents filed 2,330 tax returns reporting a total of $134,283,901 in adjusted gross income. Fairbury taxpayers’ average income was $57,362 and average state taxes paid were $2,319.
Galesburg residents filed 13,581 tax returns reporting a total of $631,269,713 in adjusted gross income. Its taxpayers’ average income was $45,575 and average state taxes paid were $1,697.
Galva postal customers filed 1,501 tax returns reporting a total of $65,283,909 in adjusted gross income. Galva taxpayers’ average income was $43,493 and average state taxes paid were $1,690.
Geneseo citizens filed 5,549 tax returns reporting a total of $387,144,459 in adjusted gross income. Taxpayers there averaged $69,768 in income and $2,745 in state taxes paid.
Kewaneeans filed 5,935 tax returns reporting a total of $226,619,512 in adjusted gross income. Kewanee taxpayers’ average income was $38,183 and average state taxes paid were $1,438.
Macomb postal customers filed 7,189 tax returns reporting a total of $340,108,772 in adjusted gross income. Macomb taxpayers’ average income was $47,309 and average state taxes paid were $1,698.
Monmouth postal customers filed 4,980 tax returns reporting a total of $215,955,491 in adjusted gross income. Monmouth taxpayers’ average income was $43,364 and average state taxes paid were $1,644.
Morton residents filed 8,510 tax returns reporting a total of $688,717,545 in adjusted gross income. Morton taxpayers’ average income was $80,930 and average state taxes paid were $3,189.
Oquawka postal customers filed 907 tax returns reporting a total of $40,918,532 in adjusted gross income. Oquawka taxpayers’ average income was $45,114 and average state taxes paid were $1,724.
Orion taxpayers filed 1,577 tax returns reporting a total of $89,881,863 in adjusted gross income. Their average income was $56,995 and average state taxes paid were $2,175.
Pekin postal customers filed 19,357 tax returns reporting a total of $918,819,670 in adjusted gross income. Pekin taxpayers’ average income was $47.467 and average state taxes paid were $1,747.
Pontiac postal customers filed 5,927 tax returns reporting a total of $310,507,169 in adjusted gross income. Pontiac taxpayers’ average income was $52,388 and average state taxes paid were $2,018.
Washingtonians filed 11,023 tax returns reporting a total of $710,513,211 in adjusted gross income. Washington taxpayers’ average income was $64,457 and average state taxes paid were $2,536.
The low in average income and state taxes paid was in Kewanee; the high in Morton. The median for income and state taxes (or midpoint, with an equal number above and below) was Aledo.
How do you fare? How do you feel?
[PICTURED: Pie chart from IIRON Student Network, a charitable, nonpartisan advocacy group.]
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