Yohna Hornbuckle: 50% property tax rise threatens Rantoul man’s homeownership
Yohna Hornbuckle: 50% property tax rise threatens Rantoul man’s homeownership
Illinois is No. 1 in the nation for property taxes, an uncomfortable reality for Rantoul homeowner Yohna Hornbuckle. His property taxes are up 50% in six years and threaten his ability to stay.
By Jess Plowman
Chicago might join 209 voting to tax groceries: is your town on list?
Chicago might join 209 voting to tax groceries: is your town on list?
Over 200 Illinois towns have opted to charge a 1% grocery tax. Chicago is likely to follow. Local leaders have until October to decide whether to impose this regressive tax on people’s need to eat.
By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis
Vallas: ‘Tax Illinois’ rich’ dogma is a dangerous delusion
Vallas: ‘Tax Illinois’ rich’ dogma is a dangerous delusion
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson likes to parrot platitudes about taxing the rich to fix the city, CTA and Chicago Public Schools finances. But all three made bad decisions and did not adjust to post-pandemic realities. And the rich can move away.
By Paul Vallas
Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote
Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote
A group of Illinois lawmakers is suing their peers over the last-minute rush to OK a $55 billion state budget few people had seen – just like they do every year. The lawsuit aims to block the budget before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs it in to law.
By Dylan Sharkey
Inside Illinois’ 2026 budget: spend now, squeeze more, solve later
Inside Illinois’ 2026 budget: spend now, squeeze more, solve later
State lawmakers built Illinois’ record $55.2 billion budget for 2026 on gimmicks, one-time fixes and piecemeal tax hikes. They left pension debt, transit cliffs and real reform for another day.
By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar
Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break
Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco, short-term rentals and more. At the same time, he’s set to take away a property tax break.
By Patrick Andriesen
5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass
5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass
Illinois lawmakers got creative with state budget proposals to overhaul pensions and raise new revenue, many of which would have hit consumers and small businesses hardest. They also failed to intrude on how families choose to educate their children.
By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis
Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly
Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly
With the Illinois state legislative session ended, bills will start crossing the governor’s desk, some containing tax hikes, unaffordable spending and needless regulation. Here’s how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop these bad policies from becoming law.
By Joe Tabor
Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes
Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes
Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending.
By Bryce Hill, Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland
State leaders rely on budget gimmicks and short-term fixes and they assume speculative proposals will become law and operate exactly as planned just to balance the books, if only on paper. Transparent, laws-on-the-books-based modeling is the only path to long-term stability.
By Ravi Mishra
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks
With the budget facing a potential $1.2 billion deficit, some ideas on the table include taxing deliveries from companies such as Amazon and digital ads.
By Ravi Mishra
Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall
Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall
Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties.
By Patrick Andriesen