Marathon Weekend Legislative Session Produces Car License And Fuel Tax Increases To Fund $45 Billion

With the Illinois House in session Saturday and the Illinois Senate spilling over into Sunday as well, our Representatives and Senators are sending Governor Pritzker bills he has pledged to sign providing $45 billion in funding for roads, bridges, transit and government buildings, to be funded by doubling of the gasoline tax, allowing Cook County cities and villages to add 3 cents a gallon on top of that, and indexing Illinois fuel taxes to inflation in future years. Car license fees will go up to $151 for non-electric cars, and $248 for electric cars, since electric cars use our roads, but do not pay motor fuel tax.

Some additional construction funds are projected to come from massive expansion of legalized gambling, including legalization of sports betting, a 4,000 position land based Chicago privately owned casino, and slot machines at O’Hare and Midway. State taxes of 6% for daily parking and 9% for monthly parking in garages and lots will also be imposed on top of existing local municipal parking taxes.