DeKalb Times

An Illinois mayor said that the state is "clearly headed in the wrong direction" because of its tax policies that some policymakers link to residents moving out of the state.

The state's downward spiral has been happening for a while, Dixon Mayor Liandro "Li" Arenallo told the DeKalb Times, because of "our incredibly high taxes, poor financial leadership and persistent resistance to any effort of reform."

Illinois is one of the country's highest-taxed states, which has led to people seeking cheaper alternatives outside its border.

"On top of all that, we just passed this so-called police reform bill [criminal justice reform] that makes it harder for police to do their jobs at a time when we need officers more than ever before, the mayor said.

In January, Illinois Policy reported that two of the largest moving companies in the country concluded that upward of 60% of interstate moves served by them on behalf of Illinois residents were of the outbound variety.

With taxes and lack of job opportunities ranking among the biggest reasons for many deciding to walk away, U-Haul researchers also found that Illinois ranks second-to-last in the country for inbound moves.

Arenallo said he worries things may actually get worse before they get better.

"Even with everything that's happening that shouldn't be, we've still got Springfield playing to the special interests instead of working to do what's in the best interest of the masses," he claimed. "One example is the way they just gave more power to the Chicago Teachers Union at the same time they were stripping away rights of police departments across the state to bargain as a union."