Will County Gazette

As a small business owner and manufacturer in Illinois, to say I’m concerned and worried about what’s to come for our state would be an understatement. With a looming budget deficit, it's clear that tax increases are on the horizon—and that could spell disaster for small businesses like mine. We’re already operating on the tightest of margins, and we simply cannot absorb more costs.

In 2020, Illinois workers and business owners stood united to defeat the progressive tax amendment, knowing that raising taxes on the very people who drive the state’s economy would only hurt us in the long run. If Springfield attempts to raise taxes that way again, we will fight even harder. We need a government that understands the pressure we’re under—not one that burdens us with more financial strain.

It’s time for Springfield to take a hard look at how they’re managing state spending. Small businesses know how to scale back, how to tighten budgets, and how to cut costs without sacrificing quality or jobs. If our state government truly wants to balance the budget, they need to learn from us. We cannot afford to keep living beyond our means. Instead of reaching into the pockets of hard-working business owners and employees, Springfield must focus on reducing wasteful spending and finding real solutions to the budget crisis.

Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois. We need a state government that stands with us, not against us.

Larry Spelman is the General Manager of J.H. Botts, LLC, an anchor bolt and steel fabrication manufacturer in Joliet.