Report: Illinois families average $331 in cellphone taxes, highest rate in nation

By Vincent Caruso

12/14/2018

Cellphone taxes increased nationwide – and Illinois moved up to be the top taxer. Add another $157 in tax on Chicagoans’ wireless bills.

TAGS: sales tax, taxes, wireless tax

Holiday shopping and the sales tax scrooge

By Austin Berg

12/13/2018

Illinois' current patchwork of sales tax exemptions, oftentimes carved out by special interests, makes for poor policy.

TAGS: sales tax, taxes

Rahm to Springfield: State gas tax needs to at least double

By Vincent Caruso

12/11/2018

Departing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel accelerated calls to boost Illinois’ gas tax to pay for local transportation projects.

TAGS: Chicago, gas tax, JB Pritzker, Rahm Emanuel, taxes, transportation, VMT: vehicle miles traveled

Chicago anticipated to be nation’s weakest major housing market in 2019

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

12/06/2018

A study by realtor.com ranks the Chicago region’s housing market slowest of 100 U.S. metro areas for 2019. That stat could be fixed, or made worse.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home price index, housing, property taxes, taxes

Rock Island County hikes property taxes by nearly 12 percent

By Janelle Cammenga

12/05/2018

County board members narrowly voted to hike the county’s property tax levy by nearly 12 percent to make up for a $500,000 shortfall.

TAGS: property taxes, rock island county, taxes

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Madison County makes history with generous taxpayer support of museum

By Brad Weisenstein

12/04/2018

Most county historical societies in Illinois rely on donations and memberships, but the Madison County Historical Society receives a generous infusion of tax dollars to run its museum and library. County leaders just cut the total, but why do they provide taxpayer support at all?

TAGS: Kurt Prenzler, Madison County, Madison County Historical Society, taxes

Highland Park to hike property tax levy nearly $1M to pay for pensions

By Joe Barnas

12/04/2018

Citing public safety pension costs, the city is expected to approve another increase to its property tax levy.

TAGS: Highland Park, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Chicago to state lawmakers: ‘Seize the opportunity’ for gas tax hike

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2018

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is looking to make inroads on an increase in Illinois’ gas tax.

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

Geneseo hikes property taxes by 10 percent to pay for pensions

By Janelle Cammenga

11/30/2018

The city of Geneseo hiked its property tax levy by nearly 10 percent to pay for police pensions.

TAGS: Geneseo, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes