Fiscal Cliff (and taxes and related stuff)

[Busjack]

Since the NITA bill does not cover funding, I thought it needed separate treatment. ABC7 just said there is a proposal for:

• An increase in tolls on the Illinois Tollway in the Chicago area
• A rideshare tax in the 6-county area
• An increase in the Chicago Real Estate Transfer Tax

But Kam Buckner said this has to go through the process and certainly isn't final.

Update: NBC Chicago:  Chicago transit plan that would raise rideshare taxes, tolls blasted by critics

[Busjack]

Through much hard work, I finally found this version of the NITA bill, which is HB 3438 Senate Amendment 002. A good explanation is in Capitol News Illinois.

• The main thing that's causing the stink is that when the 2008 RTA bill raised the RTA sales tax in the collar counties from 0.25% to 0.75%, 0.25% went to the counties for infrastructure purposes. The counties spent it, but this bill says NITA should keep it.
• Correcting my last post, the RETT now imposed in the City of Chicago would be imposed throughout the 6 counties.
• 10% tax on rideshares
• A 50 cent increase per toll ("Transit Support Fee; may not exceed $1/day; can have a low-income fee reduction plan) .
• A 6 cents tax per kWh at public EV charging stations (this is under the "Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act").

 

 

[Jstange059]

So yeah, about that transit funding… yeah, we don’t seem to be getting it…