Sangamon Sun

Sangamon County taxpayers would see a total of $47 million in state income tax increases if a tax hike measure passed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois State Senate becomes law.

Sangamon County communities that would see the largest collective increases include West Central Springfield/Leland Grove ($14.3 million), North Central Springfield ($6.2 million), Chatham ($5.2 million) and Southeast Springfield ($4.3 million). 

Taxpayers from Rochester ($879), Chatham ($816), Cantrall ($811), Sherman ($792) and West Central Springfield/Leland Grove ($725) would see the highest average increases.

Led by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Democrats passed the individual income tax hike last week-- from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent-- along with a broader set of tax increases on businesses.

If their projections prove correct, individual Illinois taxpayers will send an additional $4.453 billion to Springfield each year as a result of the higher rates. Businesses will pay another $1 billon.

LGIS looked at 2014 income taxes paid by zip code to create a ranking of the highest-paying Sangamon County communities.

Its analysis looked at the percentage of total state income taxes paid by zip code, as reported by the Illinois Department of Revenue. It then applied that percentage to the amount Senate Democrats expect their tax hike will raise to calculate an average increase.

The analysis used 2014 tax return data, which is the latest available and also represents a year in which state income taxes were higher-- five percent, or approximately the level to which the Democrats are hoping to raise them.

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Top income tax-paying communities in Sangamon County

Which communities pay the highest income taxes in Sangamon County?

Ranking	Communities	Zip	Average State Income Tax Increase	Total Returns filed by Zip
1	Rochester	62563	$879	2,779
2	Chatham	62629	$816	6,358
3	Cantrall	62625	$811	452
4	Sherman	62684	$792	2,448
5	Springfield (West Central) / Leland Grove	62704	$725	19,740
6	Pleasant Plains	62677	$724	1,313
7	Williamsville	62693	$689	849
8	New Berlin	62670	$686	1,495
9	Buffalo	62515	$651	404
10	Pawnee	62558	$628	1,682
11	Springfield (North)	62707	$613	3,630
12	Dawson	62520	$599	719
13	Mechanicsburg	62545	$588	597
14	Divernon	62530	$584	738
15	Auburn	62615	$577	2,532
16	Loami	62661	$568	574
17	Illiopolis	62539	$560	601
18	Riverton	62561	$523	2,403
19	Spaulding	62561	$523	2,403
20	Thayer	62689	$398	270
21	Springfield (North Central)	62702	$393	15,820
22	Springfield (Southeast)	62703	$347	12,368

Source: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com

How much more will your community pay?

If state income taxes are increased to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent, how much more will taxpayers in your community pay for state government?

Ranking	Communities	Zip	Estimated State Income Tax Increase
1	Springfield (West Central) / Leland Grove	62704	$14,313,961
2	Springfield (North Central)	62702	$6,216,088
3	Chatham	62629	$5,191,010
4	Springfield (Southeast)	62703	$4,287,065
5	Rochester	62563	$2,443,713
6	Springfield (North)	62707	$2,226,325
7	Sherman	62684	$1,937,661
8	Auburn	62615	$1,461,412
9	Riverton	62561	$1,257,314
10	Spaulding	62561	$1,257,314
11	Pawnee	62558	$1,055,668
12	New Berlin	62670	$1,025,362
13	Pleasant Plains	62677	$950,221
14	Williamsville	62693	$584,825
15	Divernon	62530	$431,294
16	Dawson	62520	$430,589
17	Cantrall	62625	$366,381
18	Mechanicsburg	62545	$351,133
19	Illiopolis	62539	$336,320
20	Loami	62661	$325,961
21	Buffalo	62515	$262,926
22	Thayer	62689	$107,371
	TOTAL		$46,819,914

Sources: Illinois Department of Revenue; Blockshopper.com; Illinois Senate Democrats

*Assumes tax increase will meet Senate Democrats' projections.