Income tax hike will cost Fayette County residents $3.7 million more this year
VANDALIA (Heartland Newsfeed) — Fayette County residents will pay an additional $ 3,717,845 in state income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).
LGIS combined Illinois Department of Revenue data with a forecast by Senate Democrats to estimate how much additional income tax will be paid in each Illinois zip code.
The following Fayette County communities will pay the most: Vandalia ($1,744,224 total/$459 per person), Saint Elmo ($445,244/$444), Ramsey ($427,646/$424) and Brownstown ($406,059/$444).
Retroactive to July 1, the higher rate — now 4.95%, up from 3.75% — will be withheld from employee paychecks over the last six months of 2017.
Before the hike, someone earning $50,000 paid $72 in state income tax per paycheck when paid twice a month. That person will now pay $95, or an additional $600 per year.
Senate Democrats estimate the tax hike will siphon $4.453 billion more this year from individual taxpayers. Businesses will pay another $1 billion.
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How much more will your community pay?
State income taxes have increased to 4.95% from 3.75%. This chart shows how much more taxpayers in your community will pay for state government.
| Ranking | Community | Zip | Estimated State Income Tax Increase |
| 1 | Vandalia | 62471 | $1,744,224 |
| 2 | Saint Elmo | 62458 | $445,244 |
| 3 | Ramsey | 62080 | $427,646 |
| 4 | Brownstown | 62418 | $406,059 |
| 5 | Farina | 62838 | $330,768 |
| 6 | Shobonier | 62885 | $170,002 |
| 7 | Saint Peter | 62880 | $150,383 |
| 8 | Bingham | 62011 | $43,519 |
| Total | $3,717,845 |
Sources: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com
Top income tax-paying communities in Fayette County
This chart shows the ranking of communities by highest income taxes paid in Fayette County.
| Ranking | Community | Zip | Average State Income Tax Increase | Total Returns filed by Zip |
| 1 | Saint Peter | 62880 | $476 | 316 |
| 2 | Farina | 62838 | $474 | 698 |
| 3 | Vandalia | 62471 | $459 | 3,802 |
| 4 | Shobonier | 62885 | $452 | 376 |
| 5 | Saint Elmo | 62458 | $444 | 1,002 |
| 6 | Brownstown | 62418 | $444 | 914 |
| 7 | Bingham | 62011 | $435 | 100 |
| 8 | Ramsey | 62080 | $424 | 1,009 |
Sources: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com; Illinois Senate Democrats
*Assumes tax increase will meet Senate Democrats’ projections.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
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