Chicago budget hands $500 monthly to some, higher property taxes to others

By Brad Weisenstein

10/27/2021

Chicago will spend $32 million on the nation’s largest test of universal basic income. What happens after that year is one question, as is whether handing out cash will truly fix anything.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, property taxes, UBI: Universal Basic Income

Illinois’ gambling revenue chase closes in on Chicago casinos

By Dylan Sharkey

10/25/2021

Chicago is getting closer to getting a casino, but more ways and places to gamble do not necessarily mean more state revenue. Illinois would be better off betting on pension reform.

TAGS: casino, Chicago, COVID-19, gaming

Illinois imposes tricky taxes on Halloween treats

By Dylan Sharkey

10/25/2021

Taxes are different on different types of candy in Illinois, with some brands taxed six times more than others. Just because you can eat it, doesn’t mean Illinois’ tax policy sees it as food.

TAGS: Halloween, Illinois, taxes

2 ways to fix Illinois’ too-high property taxes, teacher shortage

By Ann Miller

10/21/2021

Redirecting some of Illinois’ school district administrative overhead could attract top talent to the more than 4,100 teacher openings. The savings could be $1,317 per taxpayer in one veteran teacher’s hometown. Reform pensions, and that amount grows.

TAGS: Classrooms First Act, education spending, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, taxes, teacher shortage

Chicago may hand $500 monthly for a year to 5,000 low-income families

By Adam Schuster

10/12/2021

Chicago might spend $32 million on the nation’s largest test of universal basic income. What happens after that year is one question, as is whether handing out cash will truly fix anything.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, UBI: Universal Basic Income

Illinois’ financial condition worsens despite receiving billions in federal aid

By Justin Carlson

10/01/2021

A new report from watchdog Truth in Accounting shows each taxpayer’s share of state debt has nearly doubled since 2009 to $57,000 as total debt increased by $10 billion—mostly due to pension obligations.

TAGS: budget, debt, Illinois, Truth in Accounting

Will the Chicago Bears stay in the city? Lightfoot hopes so, but says taxpayer dollars won’t be part of the deal

By Robert Brutvan

09/30/2021

Soldier Field is the NFL’s oldest stadium and home to the bears since 1971. Though their city contract runs through 2033, many expect the team will move to the suburbs after the purchase of Arlington Park in the northwest suburbs.

TAGS: Arlington Heights, Chicago Bears, Lori Lightfoot, Soldier Field

Madison County ending taxpayer support of history museum

By Brad Weisenstein

09/27/2021

During the past decade, one of the few taxpayer-supported local history museums in Illinois collected over $2 million. That is ending, but not before another $300,000 in taxes is handed to the museum.

TAGS: government spending, Madison County Historical Society, museum

$119.5M later, Southern Illinois taxpayers still trying to get airport off ground

By Brad Weisenstein

09/27/2021

An underused airport near Belleville, Illinois, has required local taxpayers to chip in $119.5 million since 2002 to keep it operating. Even with pandemic money, 2020 was even worse.

TAGS: MidAmerica Airport, property taxes, St. Clair County

Chicago average property taxes up $72 to $180, driven by pension debt

By Dylan Sharkey

09/21/2021

Chicago homeowners are likely to see average property tax bills rise between $72 and $180 based on the city’s new budget. Higher taxes are driven by $47 billion in pension debt, but pension reform can change that.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, property taxes