2 in 5 Chicago city workers are paid $100K or more

By Vincent Caruso

01/18/2019

Chicago had nearly 15,000 municipal employees paid at least six figures in 2017, up more than 1,000 from the previous year. That’s more than 40 percent of the city’s workforce.

TAGS: Chicago, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Rahm Emanuel, salaries

Pritzker gives $100 million in pay raises to some of the nation’s highest paid state workers

By Adam Schuster

01/15/2019

On his first full day in office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he will grant costly automatic pay raises to Illinois’ state workers despite a current budget deficit of more than $1 billion.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, JB Pritzker, state worker pay, step and lane

If Illinois hikes gas tax, expect more drivers to buy across state lines

By Brad Weisenstein

01/14/2019

Illinois already taxes 20 cents more per gallon of gasoline than Missouri. If state lawmakers add another 30 cents per gallon, expect an exodus of southwestern Illinois drivers buying gas and more in St. Louis.

TAGS: gas tax, property taxes, St. Clair County

Inauguration day: 5 pro-taxpayer reforms Pritzker should push in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

01/14/2019

The Land of Lincoln has a new governor, but the state’s deep-seated problems remain. Here are five reforms that newly inaugurated Gov. J.B. Pritzker could pursue to begin setting the state on the right fiscal path.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, school district consolidation, spending cap

Lame-duck Illinois Senate passes pay hikes for state department leaders

By Joe Kaiser

01/09/2019

The outgoing Illinois Senate voted with the House in approving large pay increases for state department heads. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk, though likely not until J.B. Pritzker is sworn in.

TAGS: Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, lame duck, salaries

Lame-duck House passes state government pay hikes

By Joe Kaiser

01/08/2019

In the final hours of the 100th General Assembly, some state lawmakers are pushing to send a bill to incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker that would give pay raises to state department heads.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, pensions, state worker pay

Proposal would make Illinois gas tax burden the highest in the nation

By Vincent Caruso

01/04/2019

Springfield is facing mounting pressure to enact a massive state gas tax hike. One proposal would make the average motorist pay as much as $200 per year in additional taxes on gas.

TAGS: capital project, gas tax, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Quincy hikes property taxes to pay for pensions

By Joe Barnas

12/21/2018

The Gem City joins a growing list of Illinois municipalities raising property taxes to pay for pensions.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, real estate, taxes

How shock at McHenry County tax bills is fueling a revolution

By Joe Kaiser

12/21/2018

Frustration over high taxes and government waste in Illinois need more than an angry social media post or a moving van. Some residents of McHenry County, Illinois, acted, and are winning reforms.

TAGS: McHenry County, property taxes, taxes

Christmas wish list: 12 gifts for Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

12/19/2018

In 2018, Springfield handed Illinoisans more of the same repackaged policy failures. Lawmakers in the coming year should tape to their desks this wish list of taxpayer-friendly reforms.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, criminal justice reform, education, graduated income tax, income tax, pensions, prison reform, progressive income tax, property taxes, school choice, school district consolidation, sentencing reform, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau