State lawmakers should first focus on ways in which they can give local governments more autonomy, rather than adding to the hundreds of unfunded mandates municipalities currently face.
School-district contracts are often full of perks that taxpayers don’t realize they’re paying for.
The array of six tax-hike proposals adds up to more than the state’s total projected general-fund spending in fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018 – combined.
Only a handful of state legislative leaders earn larger leadership bonuses than Illinois’.
If Illinois subsidies to Amtrak disappeared tomorrow, barely anyone would notice a difference.
The typical Illinois family pays the third-highest effective tax rate in the region.
Total proposed appropriations for more than one-third of state agencies – 37 departments out of nearly 100 – would change by 5 percent or less.
One of the biggest wins in this proposal is that the governor did not propose tax increases or borrowing.
Transcript, provided by Gov. Bruce Rauner's office, of his first budget address, as prepared for delivery, to the General Assembly.
Gov. Rauner’s Budget Address Operating Book (PDF) Capital Budget (PDF) Capital Projects List (xls) Operating Budget Detail (xls) Operating Budget Detail Data Description (PDF) Operating Budgeting for Results Detail (xls) Operating Performance Measures Detail (xls)
It’s the time for a comeback – one that is spurred by pro-growth policy reforms.
Illinois government should restructure its health-insurance offerings to be more in line with what is offered in the private sector, and in a way that does not trigger the federal tax penalty.
State workers’ health-insurance benefits make up $3 billion of the state’s budget.
The cost of debt service in fiscal year 2015 is nearly $4 billion, 11 percent of Illinois' anticipated revenues.