South Central Reporter

Former Madison County Board member Don Moore laments stressed-out Illinois residents don’t have to look far to get a view of what life could be like.

“This state’s biggest problem are all the high taxes and when you’re steadily raising them while neighboring states are making things better in that department for their residents, it’s only natural that people are going to be drawn to that,” Moore told the South Central Reporter. “You have to ask yourself what you’re getting for all the taxes.”

Moore said he’s not surprised to learn that 93 of the state’s 102 counties have lost population over the last decade, with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data pegging the total loss at nearly 170,000 people, including almost 49,000 from the Cook County area alone.

In all, at least 10 different counties lost at least 5,000 residents and Moore fears the trend may not be changing anytime soon.

“Illinois has a failed system coming out of Springfield,” he said. “Even the governor’s recent budget cuts didn’t dare touch pensions. It’s like a third rail when everyone knows it our biggest driver. I wonder what he’s actually thinking of cutting. It’ll be interesting to see.”

With Illinois being only one of four states to show losses over the last decade, downstate counties have particularly suffered, with the region losing 144,000 residents or 3.2% of its 2010 population over that time. Meanwhile, data shows the losses in Cook County represent the second-worst losses of residents in any country across the country, with only Wayne County in Michigan losing more people.

“Like I said, it all comes back to pensions,” Moore added. “The costs are just unsustainable. Whenever neighboring states have lower taxes but the same quality of life, that’s going to be a draw for people.”