Belleville News-Democrat Logo

Letter to the Editor — Rolling on out of Illinois’ tax hell | Belleville News-Democrat

×
  • E-edition
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • All News
    • Metro-east News
    • MetroLink crime database
    • Business
    • Congressional shooter
    • Crime
    • Belleville News
    • Education News
    • Violation of Trust
    • Sometime in the Night
    • Then I Knew
    • O'Fallon Progress
    • Highland News Leader
    • State|Region News
    • Nation|World News
    • Politics and Government
    • Scott Air Force Base
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Public Salaries
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • All Sports
    • Cardinals
    • Cheap Seats Blog
    • Blues
    • Colleges
    • High Schools
    • Recruiting
    • Chiefs
    • High School Football
    • High School Baseball/Softball
    • High School Basketball
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Living
    • Metro-east Living
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Horoscopes
    • Health Sections
    • Ask Heidi
    • Special Sections
    • Records
    • Contests
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Celebrations
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Glenn McCoy
    • Letters/Sound-off
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Today's Hot Deal
    • Today's Circulars
    • Service Directory
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
    • Homes
    • Local Homes for Sale
  • Legals
  • Place Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

O'Fallon Progress

Letter to the Editor — Rolling on out of Illinois’ tax hell

By The Editorial Board

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 26, 2016 02:33 PM

Joe Newman runs a trucking business that hauls away liquid hazardous waste. He is in Illinois because it is close to his customers and close to the wash-out facility his tankers need.

He invested in his business in October 2014, building his facility in Fairmont City. He pays his drivers from $50,000 to $80,000, has a 401(k) retirement fund and solid health insurance.

But his trucks can roll and he could easily move a few miles and save big bucks that he said he would spend on adding workers. His workers compensation costs would be $200,000 less in Indiana and much less in Missouri, too.

Bob Stock owns a trucking company in Lebanon and he, too, pays big for workers comp, tallying $400,000 for 70 drivers. That’s the same amount he pays for health insurance for them.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to Belleville News-Democrat

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

You’d think Illinois learned its lesson when Rod Blagojevich was governor and jacked up truck licensing fees. So many trucking companies left the state that the boost in fees collected was much less than the total loss of trucks and companies. Newman now pays $2,200 per truck.

All these issues came to the fore again recently as Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner again made the point that you can’t tax your way out of the deficit hole Illinois has created. Taxes drive away business.

You’ve got to fix the business climate so companies want to be here and grow jobs and grow the number of workers sharing the tax burden. Grow the economy, not taxes.

Otherwise, the only trucking companies with a future are those that specialize in moving working families to other states.

  Comments  

Videos

The O’Fallon Progress

70-year-old O’Fallon woman earns black belt

View More Video

Trending Stories

Military planes carrying 180 tons of aid for Venezuelans fly from Miami to Colombia

February 16, 2019 07:00 AM

Retail Roundup: Walmart building revived; Jimmy John’s leaves downtown Belleville

February 17, 2019 05:00 AM

Freezing rain, more snow on the way this weekend

February 16, 2019 07:20 AM

Althoff’s Kristoff goes out in style with Class 1A state wrestling championship

February 16, 2019 10:34 PM

O’Fallon wins IHSA girls state bowling championship

February 16, 2019 09:29 PM

Read Next

O'Fallon Progress

With zoning changes, O’Fallon council clears path for several new developments

By Lynn Venhaus

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 13, 2019 11:32 AM

The O’Fallon City Council created a new enterprise zone in the Southern Illinois city which is designed to encourage economic development while preserving tax base for area schools, unlike TIF.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to Belleville News-Democrat

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE O'FALLON PROGRESS

O'Fallon Progress

Enterprise zone encourages commercial development, but preserves tax revenue for schools

February 13, 2019 11:36 AM
New O’Fallon Station will be home to large Farmers Market beginning this spring

Metro-East Living

New O’Fallon Station will be home to large Farmers Market beginning this spring

February 08, 2019 05:00 AM

O'Fallon Progress

OFP 020719 Around Town

February 06, 2019 02:13 PM
City Council to vote on Fairfield Inn plans

Metro-East News

City Council to vote on Fairfield Inn plans

January 29, 2019 12:15 PM

O'Fallon Progress

Around Town in O’Fallon

January 24, 2019 05:13 PM
Akoro sparks O’Fallon to third-place win at Highland tournament

O'Fallon Progress

Akoro sparks O’Fallon to third-place win at Highland tournament

January 21, 2019 11:29 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Advertise With Us
  • Shopping
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story