Illinoisans, Get Ready To Pay More For Gas And Food-–Here’s Why

Wasn't it cool last year when the powers-that-be here in Illinois decided (purely for your own good, I'm sure) that it would be a nice idea to suspend some of the taxes on gasoline and groceries?

I'm sure that move had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that 2022 was an election year. Nothing at all. Nope. Zero. Nada. Perish the thought!

But...the election is over. It's time to dig a little deeper into our wallets, and we'll have to start doing it on July 1st.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Doubled Illinois' Gas Tax Back In 2019, Going From 19 Cents To 38 Cents Per Gallon, And He Built In Automatic Annual Increases

But, as part of his election year "tax relief measures," a 6-month delay of the automatic hikes was implemented, too. That's why Illinoisans are looking at two gas tax hikes this year; the first one, a 3.1 cent increase took place on January 1st, and now the second hike, another 3.1 cents, will happen on July 1st.

That gives all of us here in the Land of Lincoln at total gas tax hike of 6.2 cents in 2023. The motor fuel tax will be 45.4 cents per gallon by the time you head out to enjoy the 4th of July, up from the 42.3 cents we've been paying since the first of the year, and the 39.2 cents we were shelling out a year ago.

 Enough About Gas Taxes...Did I Mention That Illinois' Grocery Tax Is Returning, Too?

Back when the decision was made to suspend the gas tax increases, there was also an order given to suspend Illinois' grocery tax as well.

Illinois lawmakers called a halt to the collection of grocery taxes last July, and said that Illinois' 1 percent grocery tax would be on hold for the entire fiscal year.

Well, we're nearly at the end of that timespan, so get ready for groceries in Illinois to be back to being taxed at one percent starting on Saturday, July 1st.

But wait, there's more, according to TheCenterSquare.com:

The state's recently approved fiscal year 2024 budget includes other fee increases. Certificate of title, except for an all-terrain vehicle, off-highway motorcycle, or motor home, mini motor home or van camper will be $165, up from $155. The price of getting driving records will increase to $20 from $12. Another increase in the budget includes the fee the Secretary of State can charge "local governments, elected state officials, state education institutions, and all other governmental units of the State and Federal Government" for access to driving statistics. That fee is doubled from $250 to $500.