Illinoisans are struggling under the highest property tax burdens in the country. Many of the reasons for those high taxes are known – too many local governments, executive pay for local administrators and rising pension costs. What taxpayers don’t know is that local school districts have billions in debt, which drives up property taxes even further....
The reinstatement of a federal asset forfeiture program marks a step backward for civil asset forfeiture reform.
Illinois taxpayers deserve to have a voice in budgeting decisions as politicians continually look to hike their taxes.
State Rep. Robert Martwick blamed “poorly written” ethics laws for his failure to disclose income from political consulting work.
Illinois’ June jobs data show 4,300 more Illinoisans are unemployed and the state’s labor force is down 20,400 people.
AFSCME officials proposed seven tax increases for Cook County as a way to save union jobs, including an increase in the county sales tax, a new head tax and doubling the amusement tax to 6 percent, despite the county’s local tax burden already being among the highest in the nation.
Slush fund hits record amounts as Chicago looks to the state for a bailout.
Cash-strapped and debt-ridden Chicago Public Schools plans to increase per-pupil funding by roughly $200 a student over last year’s budget.
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow workers a real say in which union represents them, require secret ballots for union voting, and ensure that all workers’ voices count – not just those who align with the union.
The proposed settlement would cost Chicago $38.75 million, with $26.75 being paid out in refunds and $12 million wrote off for those who never paid their tickets.
The case against Mount Prospect, Ill., shows how tax increment financing districts siphon tax money from school districts and other taxing bodies, and diverts needed resources and puts pressure on taxpayers to make up the difference.
The $5 billion tax increase will be eaten up by this year’s pension payment.