By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – With the state now losing a resident to another state every nine minutes and more than half of all voters pointing to rising taxes as its biggest problem, Illinois state Rep. Dan Ugaste worries what price the state could ultimately be forced to pay for its costly ways.

A recent Illinois Policy Institute poll finds 52% of taxpayers, or roughly twice as many that point to the economy, now list high taxes as their top issue.

In Chicago, things appear much the same, with 35% of voters also ranking high taxes as their primary concern. Ugaste, R-Geneva, warns such sentiments could mean more people leaving the state for lower taxed states.

“A recent study showed we are expected to lose 1 million people between now and the year 2050, more than any other state in the country,” Ugaste told The Center Square. “It doesn’t bode well for us because the more people leave, the higher the taxes are going to be on those who stay because the costs just never go down.”

Ugaste said lawmakers recently approved new taxes to keep Chicago public transit on schedule making matters harder for already cash-strapped taxpayers. At the same time, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing new taxes on everything from streaming and Uber services to sports betting.

“Nothing’s being done to address the issues,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we just had a veto session … and it actually cost the people of the state of Illinois almost $11 billion. While I believe we needed mass transit and needed to keep it running in the state I certainly would not have gone with that.”

Through it all, Ugaste, who has filed several bills seeking to enact tax reforms, vows to continue his crusade.

“Keep filing bills, keep bringing it to the public’s attention, showing them the way they can improve the situation, keep talking to people on the other side to get them to understand that this is going to be a problem that will eventually collapse on itself,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder for everyone to stay in the state, and I know so many people that already have plans to leave.”

Over the last five years, census data shows Illinois has lost 420,678 residents to other states and before 2024, 128,034 have left Chicago, leaving the city with its lowest population in at least a century.