West Central Reporter

Pike County taxpayers paid $56,198 in Special County Retailers Occupation Tax in May, according to Illinois tax records.

This figure marks a noticeable increase from the previous month, where Special County Retailers Occupation Tax collection stood at $54,586.

Over the past 12 months, Pike County's residents have collectively paid a total of $688,929 in Special County Retailers Occupation Tax.

The Special County Retailers Occupation Tax, a crucial revenue stream, is primarily allocated for county governments use.

Despite fluctuations in tax collection, Illinois continues to be one of the highest-taxed states in the U.S. According to a Wallet Hub study from March 2023, the state ranked as having the highest tax burden, approximately 39.83% above the national average.

Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker is accused of adding more than $5.2 billion in new or higher taxes since coming into power in early 2019. As a business owner, he has a fortune of more than $3 billion, largely based on his family's wealth and connections.

Month	Amount Collected	% Change from Previous Month
May	$56,198	3
April	$54,586	21.6
March	$44,873	-4.3
February	$46,901	-28.8
January	$65,900	6.8
December 2022	$61,692	-2.3
November 2022	$63,172	8.3
October 2022	$58,349	-1.6
September 2022	$59,293	7.8
August 2022	$54,982	-2.3
July 2022	$56,276	-15.6
June 2022	$66,707	26.7