WQAD|New proposal would tax Illinois drivers per mile

Director of Operations at Taxpayers United of America’s, Jared Labell, was quoted by WQAD about I Ride.



SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A new proposal could tax Illinois drivers by the mile and mean devices are used to track the distance they travel.
The proposal from state Senate President John Cullerton to pay for fixing Illinois’ roads is aimed at gasoline tax revenue that has declined, the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports. He says vehicles getting better mileage still wear on roads, and that there needs to be a better way for the state to collect taxes and fund repair work.
Under the plan, drivers could choose one of two ways that a device monitors their mileage, or opt to pay a 1.5-cent-per-mile tax on a base 30,000 miles traveled annually.
Cullerton says Illinois drivers would receive a refund for costs of gasoline taxes.

FOX 2|Illinois lawmaker proposes taxing drivers by the mile

Director of Operations at Taxpayers United of America’s, Jared Labell, was quoted by FOX 2 about I Ride.



SPRINGFIELD, IL (KTVI) – Some say a plan to tax Illinois drivers by the mile is highway robbery. The idea is being talked about in Springfield as a way to shore up funding for what some say is crumbling infrastructure.
A current proposal by the leader of the Illinois Senate would give Illinois drivers a rebate on the current fuel tax to make up for the tax they would pay for each mile. The reason for the plan is consumers are using less fuel. One factor is vehicles are more fuel efficient. The advancement have resulted in less tax money for the state.
The plan would tax drivers a flat rate of $450 dollars a year. That’s based on a 1.5 cent tax for every mile and a figure of 30,000 miles a year. If a driver feels they would travel fewer than 30,000 miles a year, they could have a monitoring device installed and pay 1.5 cents for every miles traveled. A separate monitor would determine when the vehicle left the state, so no out of state miles would be taxed.
Out of state drivers would not receive a rebate at the pump. They would pay the gas tax currently in place.
“I think it’s overly complicated,” said Marine resident Scott Calvin. “I think we get taxed enough. I think Illinois probably needs to get their budget under control.”
Other drivers we talked with say they want to know more about the plan. One taxpayer group has heard enough.
“It’s highway robbery saying you owe $450 for just being a driver in Illinois or be tracked everywhere you go,” said Jared Labell, Taxpayers United of America. “With 14 years of budget deficits, over $111 billion in unfunded liabilities, they’re trying to find money anywhere they can.”
Others believe the state is in desperate need of increasing funding mechanisms. They predict if infrastructure issues are not addressed soon, the Illinois economy will be hurt even more.

ABC KHQA|Lawmakers propose new mile tax for Illinois drivers

Director of Operations at Taxpayers United of America’s, Jared Labell, was quoted by ABC KHQA about I Ride.



“I Ride” would track drivers’ miles through a required odometer in each vehicle.
It would track the amount of miles each resident drives on Illinois roads.
Illinois senate president John Cullerton proposed the bill.

“After a couple years of research it’s generally known as a vehicle miles traveled program. And that is one that is essentially a user fee, the more you use the road the more you pay, so instead of taxing you on each gallon of gas it’s charging you on each mile that you drive,”said John Patterson.

The senator’s office says the bill would modernize the way taxes are collected for road improvements. As cars become more efficient and fewer of them use gas that means less money for the state.
Drivers concerned about privacy could opt to pay a flat rate instead of installing an odometer.
Opponents think the new legislation would not replace the current gas tax but would be an added tax.

“This brand new proposal by Senator Cullerton is very, very damaging , we believe, to the Illinois economy. To be putting a new tax on your everyday workers who will be the ones predominantly affected is not a good idea at this time when Illinois’ overall economy is so shaky,” said Jared Labell.

Tri-State residents say they’re hesitant about the new idea.