East Central Reporter

Richland County taxpayers paid $176,166 in County School Facility Tax in January, according to Illinois tax records.

This figure marks a significant increase from the previous month, where County School Facility Tax collection stood at $162,002.

Over the past 12 months, Richland County's residents have collectively paid a total of $1.9 million in 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.

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	$176,166	8.7
December 2022	$162,002	-4.5
November 2022	$169,696	12.7
October 2022	$150,581	-0.7
September 2022	$151,602	-16.2
August 2022	$180,915	2.7
July 2022	$176,174	5
June 2022	$167,755	13.4
May 2022	$147,970	-6.3
April 2022	$157,951	39.3
March 2022	$113,410	-6.3
February 2022	$121,072	-27.5