Will County Gazette

The Republican candidate for Will County executive opposes the proposed Fair Tax and implies his Democratic rival, Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, is fully in favor of the Illinois tax amendment. 

“The Democrats are looking for more of a tax-and-spend-type of law because the state is in the red,” said Nick Ficarello, a retired police officer running against Bertino-Tarrant for Will County executive. 

Bertino-Tarrant served as a senator, representing the 49th District since 2012 and previously as the Will County regional school superintendent from 2007 to 2013. She is not seeking re-election to the state Senate, according to Ballotpedia.

“The Fair Tax opens up the door for taxation to increase even though certain Democratic propaganda states it doesn't, but when you read the law, it actually does,” Ficarello told the Will County Gazette.

On Nov. 3, voters will either approve or disprove the Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment No. 1, which would open the way for the Fair Tax proposal to replace the state’s existing flat income tax.

“I don't think it's fair to the Illinois taxpayer or Illinois citizen to continuously be taxed to point that is driving citizens out of state,” said Ficarello in an interview. “What other reason is there for so many people to leave Illinois, California and New York, all the higher tax bracket states? Their departure ultimately results in less tax revenue coming in because less people are living here.” 

The current flat rate was instituted in 1969 and stands at 4.95% for individuals. As previously reported, proponents of the Fair Tax argue that it will force the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes.

“The Fair Tax claims to hold wealthy people more accountable,” Ficarello said. “The current rate they set was $250,000 but I believe that rate in the future can change.”

Illinois' Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker introduced the Fair Tax, also known as a graduated or progressive tax rate, because it would reportedly earn the state $3.4 billion in added revenue.

“The Democrats are looking for any way possible to try to bring the state out of the red,” Ficarello said. “The state, for the most part, has been run by Democrats, especially in the Senate, the statehouse, and the Illinois House of Representatives. There are certain obligations that they've negotiated that have caused a shortfall in revenue.”