The state of Illinois seems to have little in common with the nearby state of Iowa when it comes to attracting and maintaining residents, if recent government statistics are to be believed.
Newly released U.S. Census Bureau figures reveal Iowa’s population climbed by 12,500 residents in 2018, as Illinois’ tumbled by a state-record-setting total of more than 45,000.
Not-for-profit, small-business advocacy group NFIB concludes that at least some of the differences can be traced to recent state policy trends.
In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg recently signed off on legislation simply known as the Reynolds Reform Plan that purports to provide “immediate relief to middle class workers, small business owners, farmers, families and teachers across Iowa.”
At its core, the legislation features such components as tax relief for middle class residents, specifics tax saving for teachers and lower tax rates for small business owners across the state. In all, the sweeping reforms boasts an estimated $2.16 billion in tax relief for its targeted constituency over the next six years.
Meanwhile, so many residents have become disillusioned with Illinois, home to some of the country's highest property taxes, the state’s 2018 population losses were only topped across the country by New York’s loss of nearly 49,000 residents.
With outmigration still surging, the Quad-City Times reports the state is expected to lose one of its 18 congressional seats by the time the next Census figures are tabulated. According to data recently released by the Census Bureau, the state has now fallen from the list of the country’s five largest states, dropping to sixth behind Pennsylvania.
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