Unpaid sick leave will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion over the next three decades
Unpaid sick leave will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion over the next three decades
Top school district superintendents have used the sick-leave perk to boost their pensions by $350,000 or more over the course of their retirements.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Illinois Medicaid expansion costs are already double initial projections
Illinois Medicaid expansion costs are already double initial projections
Between 2014 and 2016, Illinois’ Medicaid expansion cost $4.6 billion more than its supporters had forecasted, crowding out services for Illinois’ most vulnerable residents.
By Jonathan Ingram
Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow
Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow
Illinois holds more than $66 million worth of stocks and bonds in PepsiCo, Coca Cola and Dr. Pepper Snapple alone.
By Austin Berg
Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services
Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services
The Senate’s “grand bargain” contains a one-year spending “cap” that won’t improve fiscal responsibility. A real cap must come with structural spending reforms to return spending to a level that taxpayers can afford.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools
Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.
By Chris Lentino
Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year
Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year
A golden rule of finance is this: Debt that can’t be paid won’t be paid.
By Michael Lucci
Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
More than half of Illinois voters want lawmakers to balance the budget by only cutting state spending.
By John Tillman
Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services
Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services
A new proposal from state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights, would tax internet streaming services in Illinois, much like the potentially illegal internet streaming tax implemented in Chicago.
Illinois senator pitches expanding sales tax to tattoos, manicures and pedicures, more
Illinois senator pitches expanding sales tax to tattoos, manicures and pedicures, more
In the wake of the “grand bargain” budget plan failure, an Illinois politician has proposed applying the 6.25 percent state sales tax to a broad range of services.
By Hilary Gowins
The truth about your property tax bill
The truth about your property tax bill
Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for such costly promises as they struggle to find opportunities of their own.
By Austin Berg
Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown
Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown
The Senate adjourned yesterday without taking any votes on the "grand bargain."
By Jim Long
10 reasons Illinois’ ‘grand bargain’ fails taxpayers
10 reasons Illinois’ ‘grand bargain’ fails taxpayers
The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget deal is full of tax hikes because it lacks the necessary spending reforms needed to right Illinois’ fiscal ship.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
On average, Illinois schools spend $13,077 per student.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
The city’s latest taxpayer-funded development project reinforces the need to eliminate tax increment financing in favor of honest and transparent city budgeting.
By Chris Lentino