Chief Financial Officer Cory Staley | Illinois Department of Revenue
Chief Financial Officer Cory Staley | Illinois Department of Revenue
In total, residents paid just under $1.7 million in sales taxes during 2023.
The county also ranked 72nd in the Prairie State the year before, with just over $1.6 million spent in sales taxes.
The largest share of sales taxes paid by Mercer County residents in 2023 came from the County School Facility Tax.
The County School Facility Tax is a local sales tax that funds school construction and repairs. The tax is typically imposed at a rate up to 1%. It was authorized in Illinois in 2007 and, since then, has been adopted by over 60 counties. The tax has gained popularity since it's supposed to provide funding for schools without increasing property taxes.
As of 2021, Illinois was the highest taxed state in the US. A study from Wallet Hub found Illinois taxes were 39.83% higher than the national average.
Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker is accused of adding more than $5.2 billion in new or higher taxes since coming into power in early 2019. As a business owner, he has a fortune of more than $3 billion, largely based on his family's wealth and connections.
2023 Mercer County Sales Tax Revenues by Type
| Type of Tax | Amount Collected in Year | % Change From Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| County School Facility Tax | $1,022,750 | 4.5% |
| County Sales Tax | $331,718 | 7.8% |
| Countywide Sales Tax | $326,233 | 3.2% |
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