ObamaCare brings another unwelcome Tax Day surprise for Illinoisans
ObamaCare brings another unwelcome Tax Day surprise for Illinoisans
How an SEIU contract sticks Illinois taxpayers with the costs of rising premiums under ObamaCare.
Illinois’ middle class shrinking as property taxes shoot to record levels
Illinois’ middle class shrinking as property taxes shoot to record levels
Illinois stands out in the Midwest for unaffordable housing – 34 percent of Illinois households spend more than 30 cents per dollar of income on housing, more than any other state in the region.
Pew study blows hole in myth that Illinois has a revenue problem
Pew study blows hole in myth that Illinois has a revenue problem
Tax revenues in Illinois are up 22.5 percent over pre-recession highs, while 30 other states are collecting less tax revenue today than they were before the recession began.
The shockingly bad fiscal health of Chicago (and the financial engineering used to hide it)
The shockingly bad fiscal health of Chicago (and the financial engineering used to hide it)
State lawmakers and the city of Chicago owe taxpayers an honest assessment. It's a sad state of affairs when we have to get that assessment from a bond guru in Kentucky.
Lake County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
Lake County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
Lake County gets back just 73 cents for every dollar it pays into the LGDF.
DuPage County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
DuPage County shortchanged by Local Government Distributive Fund
DuPage County gets back just 79 cents for every dollar it pays into LGDF.
Illinois lawmakers propose 59 new unfunded mandates for local governments
Illinois lawmakers propose 59 new unfunded mandates for local governments
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.
Salary perks in Jersey County’s school-district contract
Salary perks in Jersey County’s school-district contract
School-district contracts are often full of perks that taxpayers don’t realize they’re paying for.
Illinois politicians propose $100B in tax hikes over next 5 years
Illinois politicians propose $100B in tax hikes over next 5 years
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.
Madigan, Cullerton bonuses among largest in the nation
Madigan, Cullerton bonuses among largest in the nation
Only a handful of state legislative leaders earn larger leadership bonuses than Illinois’.
Amtrak: Hardly derailed
Amtrak: Hardly derailed
If Illinois subsidies to Amtrak disappeared tomorrow, barely anyone would notice a difference.
Illinoisans pay high taxes compared to other Midwest families
Illinoisans pay high taxes compared to other Midwest families
The typical Illinois family pays the third-highest effective tax rate in the region.
Rauner budget would keep funding steady for more than a third of state agencies
Rauner budget would keep funding steady for more than a third of state agencies
Total proposed appropriations for more than one-third of state agencies – 37 departments out of nearly 100 – would change by 5 percent or less.
Rauner details landmark budget
Rauner details landmark budget
One of the biggest wins in this proposal is that the governor did not propose tax increases or borrowing.