CHICAGO (WLS) -- There's a lot of talk about a new state budget in Springfield with income tax changes. So ABC 7 translated the numbers into something we can all understand: food.
If the proposed budget becomes law, Illinois will chop off 32 percent more of residents' income. For example, if you make $40,000 annually, that's an extra $480.
Let's translate that to Taste of Chicago terms. For $10, visitors get 14 food tickets. That means $480 equals 672 food tickets at Taste of Chicago.
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A single cheeseburger from the Billy Goat Tavern costs 8 tickets, so does a slice of deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's. That means you'd be able to afford 84 fewer burgers or slices of pizza next year.
Tuscany's toasted ravioli go for 10 tickets--which means you could order 67 fewer platters of those next year.
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Don't forget the Chicago Style hot dog. A jumbo hot dog costs 12 tickets at the Taste of Chicago; you could buy 57 fewer of those next year if the budget passes.
This budget proposal isn't easy to swallow, but for now Chicago is digging in at Grant Park's Taste of Chicago!