Illinois, a state dominated by big-spending Democrats, lost residents for the sixth straight year.
The state also lost more residents in the 2010s than any other state. Thing is, the decline really only began in 2014.
From The Chicago Tribune:
Illinois’ population decreased in 2019 by an estimated 51,250 people, or 0.4%, marking the sixth consecutive year the state has lost residents, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.Since the turn of the decade, Illinois has lost more residents than any other state, with a drop of about 159,700 people, or 1.2% of its population. Only three other states have shrunk since 2010: Connecticut, Vermont and West Virginia — with West Virginia losing the largest share of its residents, a 3.3% decline.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker attempted to spin the loss in his favor:
“Illinois’ unemployment rate is at a historic low and we are continuing to create jobs in every region of the state,” the statement said. “Illinois is back and the Pritzker administration is proving that when you build relationships, work together and focus on solutions you can create positive change.”
But the stats show his plans have not had a positive impact since the state lost 51,250 people from July 2018 to July 2019.
Taxes remain the main reason why people leave the state or will not move back. This could have an enormous impact on those who decide to stay or have no choice but to stay in Illinois:
Population decline, and more specifically the decline in the prime working-age labor force, has serious negative implications for the state’s economy and the growth in state tax revenue needed to pay for current liabilities. As the population shrinks, so too does the potential tax base. Unfortunately, many of Illinois’ costs, such as pension liabilities, are fixed costs that exist independently of population trends, meaning that despite fewer taxpayers, the size of many liabilities won’t shrink.If Illinois had kept pace with average state population growth since the start of the Great Recession, it would generate $3.45 billion more in state tax revenue annually.That’s more than the $3.4 billion in new revenue Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s controversial graduated state income tax hike is claimed to generate.
Despite taxing almost everything possible, Illinois has more debt than ever before. The state passed a “temporary” income tax hike in 2011, but the debt still grew because the government cannot stop spending.
Illinois may lose even more residents if Pritzker’s so-called “fair tax” this year.
Illinois has eighteen representatives in the U.S. House, but a decrease in the population could lower the number.
[Featured image via YouTube]
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