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.
Rauner signs bill shedding light on school district administrative spending
Rauner signs bill shedding light on school district administrative spending
The new law will bring more transparency to Illinois school districts’ administrative costs, which are among the highest in the nation.
Rauner signs bill allowing consolidation of mosquito abatement districts
Rauner signs bill allowing consolidation of mosquito abatement districts
With the signing of Senate Bill 2543, taxpayers could soon see savings – and more efficiency – in local government.
DAILY LINKS / 8.18.2018
Chicago Tribune: Chicago workers' comp: $100 million a year, but no oversight Chicago Tribune: New distracted driving fine, bike safety rule signed into law Chicago Tribune: Wheaton-area school board will consider seeking voter approval on plan to lease new preschool Northwest Herald: Andrew Gasser dismisses road district administrator Daily Herald: Elk Grove Village annexes 58 acres Rockford Register-Star: State of the schools is one word: Smaller Peoria Journal-Star: There’s no doubt about it, fewer and fewer people are taking up residence in Winnebago and Boone counties, a trend that’s well illustrated in the Register Star’s annual analysis of student enrollment. Public and private school enrollment in Winnebago and Boone dropped by more than 6,000 students in the past 10 years. Only one school district and two private schools saw growth. The rest saw declines, some very large ones. Belleville News-Democrat: The County plans to spend $6,000 a month to chase grant money for MidAmerica Airport The Southern: Carbondale to force vacation rental websites to provide address of all rentals in cityRest of the nation sees 31 percent faster jobs growth vs. Illinois in 2018
Rest of the nation sees 31 percent faster jobs growth vs. Illinois in 2018
Illinois experienced its sixth consecutive month of jobs growth in July, yet continues to trail the pace of growth in the rest of the nation for 2018.
Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies
Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies
A new law will ensure Illinoisans don’t lose their right to practice their professions if they fall behind on student loan payments.
Amid controversy, political township couple banks nearly $100K in pension benefits
Amid controversy, political township couple banks nearly $100K in pension benefits
Voted out of office in 2017 amid allegations of patronage and waste, Algonquin Township’s former highway commissioner has since found work at neighboring townships – while collecting a handsome pension from his former employer.
Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital
Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital
State lawmakers should seize the momentum in Illinois. Let your people brew. And transport. And sell.
Moon and stars pension promises
Moon and stars pension promises
Taxpayer victory: Rauner signs bill axing ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials
Taxpayer victory: Rauner signs bill axing ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials
The Government Severance Pay Act places a cap on – and attaches strings to – golden parachute severance payouts for outgoing government employees.
Play money: Former Park District of Highland Park employees taking home 6-figure pensions
Play money: Former Park District of Highland Park employees taking home 6-figure pensions
More than a dozen city and park district retirees in Highland Park have received more than $1 million in pension benefits each.
20 municipal retirees in Peoria County are pension millionaires
20 municipal retirees in Peoria County are pension millionaires
The average lifetime pension benefit among the county’s 20 highest-earning municipal retirees is more than $1.2 million, while their average total retirement contribution is less than $75,000.
Chicago Ald. Willie Cochran to plead guilty to corruption charges
Chicago Ald. Willie Cochran to plead guilty to corruption charges
The South Side alderman had been charged with stealing charity donations to finance his daughter’s college tuition payments and casino getaways in Indiana, among other offences.
Chicago stopping more than 2,400 Airbnb hosts from listing their rooms
Chicago stopping more than 2,400 Airbnb hosts from listing their rooms
City bureaucracy – not consumer complaints – has left thousands of Chicago hosts barred from the Airbnb platform.