Galesburg Reporter

Knox County taxpayers paid $2.9 million in Special County Retailers Occupation Tax in 2022, according to Illinois tax records.

This figure marks a significant increase from the previous year, where Special County Retailers Occupation Tax collection stood at $2.7 million.

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.

Year	Amount Collected	% Change from Previous Year
2022	$2,859,983	5.5
2021	$2,710,494	24.3
2020	$2,180,900	9.6
2019	$1,989,171	-9.5