East Central Reporter

Richland County taxpayers paid $87,653 in Special County Retailers Occupation Tax in January, according to Illinois tax records.

This figure marks a significant increase from the previous month, where Special County Retailers Occupation Tax collection stood at $80,597.

Over the past 12 months, Richland County's residents have collectively paid a total of $935,098 in Special County Retailers Occupation Tax.

The Special County Retailers Occupation Tax, a crucial revenue stream, is primarily allocated for county governments use.

Despite fluctuations in tax collection, Illinois continues to be one of the highest-taxed states in the U.S. According to a Wallet Hub study from March 2023, the state ranked as having the highest tax burden, approximately 39.83% above 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.

Month	Amount Collected	% Change from Previous Month
January	$87,653	8.8
December 2022	$80,597	-4.5
November 2022	$84,421	12.7
October 2022	$74,916	-0.7
September 2022	$75,428	-16.2
August 2022	$90,001	2.7
July 2022	$87,642	5
June 2022	$83,454	13.2
May 2022	$73,750	-7.1
April 2022	$79,389	39.3
March 2022	$56,995	-6.3
February 2022	$60,852	-27.5