Illinois ranked No. 1 for cell phone taxes – before latest hike
Illinois ranked No. 1 for cell phone taxes – before latest hike
Illinoisans paid the highest state and local taxes for wireless cell phone services in the nation in 2024 – $136 per family more than the average. An increase in Illinois’ telecommunication tax July 1 just made them even higher.
By Charlotte Rotkis
Illinois moves over $300M out of road fund as infrastructure crumbles
Illinois moves over $300M out of road fund as infrastructure crumbles
Illinois’ latest budget diverts millions in infrastructure funds to cover structural budget deficits despite substandard road conditions.
By Ravi Mishra
Betting on DraftKings, FanDuel? Expect to see Illinois’ new 50-cent fee
Betting on DraftKings, FanDuel? Expect to see Illinois’ new 50-cent fee
Illinois is adding a 25-cent fee to all bets and 50-cent fee to high-volume sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel starting July 1. Illinoisans lost $1.12 billion in 2024, with $700 million of that on parlays. The new fees will add even more to that total.
By Dylan Sharkey
Gas, FanDuel, Zyn, AT&T, VRBO: 5 new taxes hitting Illinoisans July 1
Gas, FanDuel, Zyn, AT&T, VRBO: 5 new taxes hitting Illinoisans July 1
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $55.2 billion budget propped up by five new tax hikes starting July 1. Gas, phone bills, tobacco, sportsbooks and rentals such as VRBO will all come with higher taxes in Illinois.
By Charlotte Rotkis
Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers
Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers
Just in time for Independence Day travel, drivers will face Illinois’ latest gasoline tax hike. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has added 29 cents per gallon since 2019 – costing the average driver $143 more per year.
By Rich Witzel
Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral
Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral
J.B. Pritzker wants a third term as Illinois governor, but based on his history of boosting taxes and creating spending records, can Illinois afford him for four more years? Will the state grow even smaller as Illinoisans get fed up and leave?
By Paul Vallas
Pritzker OKs $237M in partisan pork as part of record Illinois budget
Pritzker OKs $237M in partisan pork as part of record Illinois budget
Gov. J.B. Pritzker had the power to strike $237 million in pork-barrel projects that benefit only Democratic lawmakers’ districts. He should have vetoed the pork projects to create a responsible state budget that is fair to all Illinois taxpayers.
By LyLena Estabine
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