Pensions make Illinois property taxes among nation’s most painful
Pensions make Illinois property taxes among nation’s most painful
Any meaningful property tax relief for Illinoisans means reforming Illinois’ unsustainable public pension system.
New Jersey school district stops deducting unconstitutional union fees from all employees
New Jersey school district stops deducting unconstitutional union fees from all employees
One school district in New Jersey has stopped deducting union dues and fees until it has new authorizations from employees to do so – a step in line with what the U.S. Supreme Court demanded of state and local government employers and government unions in Janus v. AFSCME. Illinois governments should follow suit.
Rauner signs bill lifting restrictions on craft breweries
Rauner signs bill lifting restrictions on craft breweries
Laws barring taprooms from serving hard cider – and craft beer produced by other breweries – are among the regulations bounced by House Bill 4897.
DAILY LINKS / 8.14.2018
Champaign News-Gazette: Busting the myth of downstate disparity Chicago Tribune: Rauner signs bill easing private takeover of water utilities, stirring outcry Crain's Chicago Business: Ride-hailing wars break out again at Chicago City Hall Chicago Tribune: Airbnb hosts scramble after Chicago sends notices to 2,400, rejecting registrations for short-term rentals Chicago Tribune: ICC commissioners should revoke Lincoln Towing’s license Crain's Chicago Business: As fiscal storm clouds gather, Chicago seeks a questionable shelter Daily Herald: Vernon Hills High expansion could cost nearly $26 million, officials reveal Daily Herald: Elgin teachers to work under expired contract until new deal is signed Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria teachers get raises as PPS board approves contractRetiring as early as age 50, Springfield municipal pensioners bank over $1M
Retiring as early as age 50, Springfield municipal pensioners bank over $1M
Among the 23 former city of Springfield employees who retired at age 50, five have accumulated more than $1 million in pension benefits.
Study: Red-light cameras fail to reduce traffic accidents
Study: Red-light cameras fail to reduce traffic accidents
A recent analysis confirms what many Illinoisans already know: While red-light cameras serve as reliable sources of revenue, they do not improve public safety.
Illinois property taxes heating up
Illinois property taxes heating up
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
In what critics have decried as an inappropriate use of scarce public safety resources, Chicago police officials parked a “bait truck” reportedly filled with boxes of Nike sneakers in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.
Missouri’s right-to-work vote: Boon or boondoggle?
Missouri’s right-to-work vote: Boon or boondoggle?
Without right-to-work protections currently offered in 27 states, you pay the union or lose your job. It’s very simple.
Shell game: Chicago considers plan to borrow $10B to pay off pension debt
Shell game: Chicago considers plan to borrow $10B to pay off pension debt
Previous pension obligation bonds in Illinois have increased costs to taxpayers and done nothing to solve the fiscal challenges created by the pension system.
Illinois state Sen. Dale Fowler pushes bill to undo ‘pension spiking’ restrictions
Illinois state Sen. Dale Fowler pushes bill to undo ‘pension spiking’ restrictions
Senate Bill 3622 would reverse recently passed restrictions on pension spiking, raising the cap on end-of-career salary increases to 6 percent from 3 percent.
30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark
30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark
Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.
St. Clair County property taxes nearly doubled over last 20 years
St. Clair County property taxes nearly doubled over last 20 years
Property taxpayers in St. Clair County have seen home values swamped by property taxes over the past 20 years.
Pair of Des Plaines park district retirees have taken home $1M each in pension benefits
Pair of Des Plaines park district retirees have taken home $1M each in pension benefits
Active Des Plaines Park District pensioners – including two pension millionaires – have put taxpayers on the hook for more than $7.6 million in pension payouts since 1996.