Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders
Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders
Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015.
By Amy Korte
Illinois will temporarily allow registration renewals without vehicle emissions tests
Illinois will temporarily allow registration renewals without vehicle emissions tests
The secretary of state’s office has announced it will temporarily allow drivers to renew their vehicle registrations without first passing emissions tests.
By Amy Korte
Education labor board to Chicago Teachers Union: No step-and-lane raises
Education labor board to Chicago Teachers Union: No step-and-lane raises
The value of these raises is estimated at $26 million. CTU wanted the education labor board to compel CPS to pay out, even though the district and the union hadn’t agreed to a labor contract.
By Ted Dabrowski
Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’
Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’
Chicago taxpayers to pay a significant premium and fees in connection with the $725 million Chicago Public Schools borrowed on Feb. 3.
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address
Full transcript of Governor Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address, as prepared for delivery to the General Assembly on Feb. 17, 2016.
By illinoispolicy
Madigan’s law: Politicians prosper as Illinoisans feel pain
Madigan’s law: Politicians prosper as Illinoisans feel pain
State lawmakers have effectively exempted themselves from the consequences of budget gridlock.
By Austin Berg
Out of ideas: Political insiders push for a $30 billion tax hike
Out of ideas: Political insiders push for a $30 billion tax hike
The Civic Federation is pushing a $30 billion tax hike in Illinois, following the same mistaken path that got Illinois in today’s fiscal crisis.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
LIVESTREAM: Gov. Rauner Budget Address
LIVESTREAM: Gov. Rauner Budget Address
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Budget Address Noon, Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Chicagoans paying 50% tax rate on raw price of gas
Chicagoans paying 50% tax rate on raw price of gas
While gas prices have dropped to a 12-year low in Illinois, Chicagoans pay $0.32 more per gallon than the state average due to multiple layers of city, county and state taxation.
By Hilary Gowins
Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say
Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say
South and West Side aldermen believe that an increase in the tobacco tax will lead to an increase in black-market sales and violence. They're right.
By Chris Lentino
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
Under one proposal for I-55, tolls in new lanes would increase at peak congestion times, giving drivers an incentive to stay off the road, and allowing the highway to operate at higher capacity and traffic to move faster.
By Mark Adams
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Streamlining the way Illinois buys goods and services could save the state $500 million annually.
By Mark Fitton
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Budget gridlock in Springfield has caused the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to stop mailing notices of vehicle-emissions-test requirements to vehicle owners.
By Amy Korte
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas levy taxes on Chicagoans over and above the already steep taxes and fees imposed by the city.
By Chris Lentino