Rock Island Today

Illinois state Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) sees just one path forward for the long-troubled and dwindling state.

“The only way for Illinois to stop the mass exodus of people and businesses leaving the state is to take up reforms that allow residents to thrive,” Anderson told the Rock Island Today. “We need to lessen the tax burden, specifically property taxes, balance our budgets and implement policies that attract job creators.”

With Illinois being among the most populated states, people are moving out in droves, searching for states where they may be allowed to keep more of their money.

Illinois Policy Institute reported that recent studies by two of the country’s largest moving companies found that 60% of interstate moves in 2020 were people leaving Illinois.

High taxes and jobs were the primary factors people used when deciding to leave.

U-Haul researchers also found that the state now ranks second-to-last in the country for inbound moves — its highest levels of outmigration in 2020 since World War II.

Unless lawmakers in Springfield develop a plan for tackling taxes and reforming the budget to make Illinois more competitive with many of its Midwestern neighbors, Anderson said he fears not much will change anytime soon.

“Especially in my district, which borders Iowa, it’s become way too enticing for residents to jump the border,” he said.

With outstanding debt now hovering in the neighborhood of at least $224 billion, IPI reports over seven years ending in 2018, the state lost some $32 billion to other states, concluding that if those residents had remained in Illinois, the budget deficit would now be about 15% smaller.