Kankakee Times

Kankakee County taxpayers would see a total of $25 million in state income tax increases if a tax hike measure passed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois State Senate becomes law.

Kankakee communities that would see the largest collective increases include North Bradley/Bourbonnais ($8 million), Kankakee/Limestone ($6.2 million), Manteno ($3.1 million), South Bradley ($2.1 million), St. Anne ($1.3 million) and Momence ($1.2 million). 

Taxpayers from Essex ($711), North Bradley/Bourbonnais ($665), Herscher ($651), Bonfield ($647), Grant Park ($611) and Buckingham ($606) would see the highest average increases.

Led by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Democrats passed the individual income tax hike last week-- from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent-- along with a broader set of tax increases on businesses.

If their projections prove correct, individual Illinois taxpayers will send an additional $4.453 billion to Springfield each year as a result of the higher rates. Businesses will pay another $1 billon.

LGIS looked at 2014 income taxes paid by zip code to create a ranking of the highest-paying Kankakee County communities.

Its analysis looked at the percentage of total state income taxes paid by zip code, as reported by the Illinois Department of Revenue. It then applied that percentage to the amount Senate Democrats expect their tax hike will raise to calculate an average increase.

The analysis used 2014 tax return data, which is the latest available and also represents a year in which state income taxes were higher-- five percent, or approximately the level to which the Democrats are hoping to raise them.

----

Top income tax-paying communities in Kankakee County

Which communities pay the highest income taxes in Kankakee County?

Ranking	Communities	Zip	Average State Income Tax Increase	Total Returns filed by Zip
1	Essex	60935	$711	487
2	Bradley (North) / Bourbonnais	60914	$665	11,978
3	Herscher	60941	$651	925
4	Bonfield	60913	$647	731
5	Grant Park	60940	$611	1,503
6	Buckingham	60917	$606	264
7	Reddick	60961	$584	352
8	Manteno	60950	$576	5,333
9	St. Anne	60964	$562	2,261
10	Chebanse	60922	$525	1,124
11	Momence	60954	$459	2,595
12	Kankakee / Limestone	60901	$443	14,044
13	Bradley (South)	60915	$431	4,858
14	Aroma Park	60910	$359	239
15	Hopkins Park	60958	$246	497

Source: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com

How much more will your community pay?

If state income taxes are increased to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent, how much more will taxpayers in your community pay for state government?

Ranking	Communities	Zip	Estimated State Income Tax Increase
1	Bradley (North) / Bourbonnais	60914	$7,966,772
2	Kankakee / Limestone	60901	$6,221,246
3	Manteno	60950	$3,072,042
4	Bradley (South)	60915	$2,092,925
5	St. Anne	60964	$1,271,731
6	Momence	60954	$1,190,806
7	Grant Park	60940	$918,077
8	Herscher	60941	$602,247
9	Chebanse	60922	$590,550
10	Bonfield	60913	$472,628
11	Essex	60935	$346,051
12	Reddick	60961	$205,551
13	Buckingham	60917	$159,983
14	Hopkins Park	60958	$122,185
15	Aroma Park	60910	$85,744
	TOTAL		$25,318,538

Sources: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com; Illinois Senate Democrats

*Assumes tax increase will meet Senate Democrats' projections.