Chicago City Wire

Dan Proft, co-host of AM 560 The Answer, said that Illinois and Chicago continue to hold the highest state and local tax burden and murder rate. "Illinois and Chicago retain their titles," he said on X on March 11, adding that Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are "delivering the goods."

"Illinois and Chicago retain their titles of "Highest State/Local Tax Burden" and "Murder Capital" respectively," said Proft, Radio host, political commentator and activist. "JB/BJ are delivering the goods."

According to Proft, he shared two graphics in his post on X. The first graphic, sourced from an Illinois Policy report, highlights Illinois’ combined state and local taxes. A WalletHub report indicates that Illinois households will pay more than 16.5% of their annual income—approximately $13,099—in combined taxes. Those earning $79,004, the U.S. median income, would pay $4,472 more in taxes than people with the same income in other states. When Illinois residents move to neighboring states, they could save anywhere from $2,715 to $5,315 in combined taxes on a median income of $79,004. This situation has led many to express a desire to leave the state, which experienced population declines from 2014 to 2023 before Census Bureau estimates were revised due to international migration.

Screenshot of Dan Proft's March 11 Post on X | X

The second graphic comes from a Wirepoints article focused on the 2024 homicide rankings of the country’s top 75 cities by population. According to this report, Chicago’s 573 homicides in 2024 resulted in an average of 21.5 homicides per 100,000 residents. This contrasts with New Orleans and Columbus, which both had 124 homicides and tied for 19th place. New Orleans’ homicide rate per capita is reported at 34.1%, while Columbus’ is at 13.6%. The Wirepoints article also notes that while homicides have generally been declining nationwide, Chicago saw an 8% decrease in 2024 compared to 2023. The reduction of 47 homicides represents an 8% decline from the previous year's total of 620 murders.

Proft is known as the co-host of "Chicago’s Morning Answer" weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on AM 560 Chicago. A former Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, he attended Northwestern University and received his J.D. from Loyola University-Chicago.