Poll: High taxes are top reason Illinoisans want to leave state

By Brad Weisenstein

10/10/2019

A year ago, over half of Illinoisans considered moving away, but today it’s more than 6 in 10, a new poll shows. The No. 1 reason cited for wanting to move? High taxes.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, sales tax, taxes

Study: Illinois state tax burden ‘least-friendly’ in nation

By Vincent Caruso

10/09/2019

The Land of Lincoln is the land of the nation’s least-friendly state tax climate, according to a new study.

TAGS: fair tax, gas tax, graduated income tax, Illinois, income tax, progressive income tax, property taxes, sales tax, taxes

Progressive income tax uncertainty likely to put brakes on Illinois’ weak housing recovery

By Bryce Hill, Karlee Hinrichsen, John Josko

10/09/2019

Illinois’ housing price growth remains well below the national average because of lagging demand, caused in large part by tax policies that make people hesitant to spend.

TAGS: fair tax, housing, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Illinois property tax relief begins by culling nearly 7,000 local government units

By Adam Schuster

10/08/2019

Illinois’ overabundance of local government layers provides ample room to consolidate and save property taxes.

TAGS: budget, consolidation, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes, townships

Chicago eliminates library late fees, forgives outstanding debt

By Ben Szalinski

09/30/2019

Chicago Public Library is now the largest public library system in the nation to stop penalizing residents for overdue library books.

TAGS: Chicago, fees, fines, library, Lori Lightfoot

Peotone airport gains in new state budget, but history shows taxpayers lose

By Ben Szalinski

09/27/2019

Funding for a third Chicagoland airport was included in the latest state budget. The controversial plan brings a risk for more corruption and overspending that will cost taxpayers millions.

TAGS: airport, budget, JB Pritzker, peotone, south suburban airport, taxes

Illinois House bills would reverse Pritzker’s car trade-in tax

By Vincent Caruso, Joe Barnas

09/26/2019

A pair of proposals recently filed by state lawmakers would kill the vehicle trade-in sales tax before it kicks into gear at the start of 2020.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Ryan Spain, sales tax, taxes, Tom Bennett

Sangamon County home values down 7%, property taxes up 14% since recession

By Brad Weisenstein

09/25/2019

Without true pension reform, Sangamon County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Watchdog: Illinois fiscal health 2nd worst in nation

By Joe Barnas

09/25/2019

Illinois received an F grade in fiscal health from a government accounting watchdog, with each taxpayer on the hook for $52,600 in debt.

TAGS: budget, debt, taxes, Truth in Accounting

Madison County home values down 17%, property taxes up 3% since recession

By Brad Weisenstein

09/17/2019

Without true pension reform, Madison County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.

TAGS: Madison County, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes