Willie Wilson Calls for Suspension of Chicago, County and State Gas Taxes (Chicago, IL) — Businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson is calling on Illinois, Cook County and Chicago officials to temporarily suspend gasoline and sales taxes through the end of the year, arguing that high fuel costs are placing an unfair burden on working families.
Wilson made the demand while standing outside a BP gas station at 50 W. Ida B. Wells Drive, where the posted price for regular gasoline was $5.99 per gallon. He said government officials at the city, county and state levels should take immediate action to reduce the cost of fuel as families continue to deal with elevated household expenses.
“The average family in Chicago is spending over $300 per month on gasoline so they can fulfill their basic needs, and Mayor Johnson and city leaders have done nothing to solve this crisis,” Wilson said. “It’s time for the city, county and state to step up to the plate and deliver real relief for people who are struggling with cripplingly high gas prices by suspending gas and sales taxes at least through the end of this year. This is the least we can do now to help people survive, and when I’m Mayor we will get Chicago’s economy working again to rebuild our middle class and provide high-quality jobs to our residents.”
Wilson’s proposal comes as gasoline prices remain a significant expense for Chicago-area motorists. For residents who commute by car, operate small businesses, transport children or depend on vehicles for work, changes in fuel prices can quickly translate into higher monthly household costs.
The candidate argued that taxes imposed at multiple levels of government are contributing substantially to what drivers pay at the pump. According to the campaign, Illinois motorists face among the highest gasoline tax burdens in the country, while Chicago drivers can face a combination of federal, state, county and municipal fuel-related taxes and sales taxes.
Wilson specifically criticized Illinois’ taxation of gasoline, including the state’s 6.25% general sales tax that applies to fuel. He also pointed to state gasoline and motor fuel tax collections, which he said approach $2 billion annually, as evidence that government has an opportunity to provide temporary relief to motorists.
The proposal would require action from multiple levels of government. The state controls several major components of the tax burden imposed on gasoline, while Cook County and the City of Chicago levy their own taxes and fees that affect the final price motorists see at gas stations.
Wilson also pointed to Illinois’ Road Fund, arguing that the state has billions of dollars in cash and unused balances that could provide room for temporary tax relief. His campaign cited more than $3.3 billion in cash and unused balances in the state Road Fund.
The candidate said the impact of fuel taxes is particularly significant in neighborhoods where residents have fewer transportation alternatives. Chicago’s public transit system provides extensive service across the city, but Wilson argued that many residents still depend on automobiles because of where they live, where they work, family responsibilities or the nature of their jobs.
He characterized the existing tax structure as a form of “double taxation” that disproportionately affects lower-income households when gasoline prices rise. Because some taxes are calculated as a percentage of the price of fuel, governments can collect more revenue as the underlying price of gasoline increases.
Wilson also attributed elevated fuel costs in part to disruptions in international oil markets that he linked to the administration’s ongoing conflict with Iran. His campaign described the situation as an “Iran War” and argued that disruptions to international oil supplies and distribution have contributed to higher prices.
The suspension Wilson is proposing would last through the end of 2026. He did not announce a longer-term proposal for restructuring the various fuel taxes beyond that period, but he framed the temporary suspension as an immediate measure intended to help families cope with high costs.
The issue places gasoline taxation within Wilson’s broader mayoral campaign, which has emphasized reducing the cost of living and providing economic relief to Chicago residents. Wilson has previously organized free gasoline giveaways, using those events to highlight the financial pressures facing motorists.
Wilson, a businessman and philanthropist, is seeking to become Chicago’s mayor and has positioned himself as an independent voice focused on working- and middle-class residents. His campaign platform includes reducing taxes on the middle class, lowering the cost of necessities such as groceries and housing, improving public schools, addressing crime and public safety, and creating what he describes as stronger economic opportunities for Chicago residents.
His latest proposal also puts pressure on Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city officials to address the cost of driving in Chicago. Wilson argued that city leaders have an obligation to respond to rising expenses rather than relying solely on broader economic conditions to determine whether families receive relief.
Suspending fuel taxes, however, would also have fiscal consequences for the governments that collect them. Gasoline and motor fuel taxes help fund transportation infrastructure and other government functions, meaning any suspension would have to account for potential reductions in public revenue. Wilson’s argument is that the immediate financial benefit to residents should take priority during the current period of high fuel costs.
For Chicago motorists, the proposal would provide direct relief at the pump if implemented, but it would require cooperation among state, county and city officials. Wilson is urging those governments to act before the end of the year, saying families should not have to continue absorbing the full burden of taxes while gasoline prices remain elevated.
As the 2027 Chicago mayoral campaign develops, Wilson is making gasoline prices and the broader cost of living a central part of his message. His call for a temporary suspension of fuel and sales taxes is aimed at putting immediate money back into consumers’ pockets while challenging elected officials to take action on expenses that directly affect millions of drivers.
Willie Wilson Calls for Suspension of Chicago, County and State Gas Taxes
