Voter information on Chicago’s real estate transfer tax hike
Voter information on Chicago’s real estate transfer tax hike
March 19 primary ballots ask Chicago voters whether they support Mayor Brandon Johnson's real estate transfer tax hike. While he and 'Bring Chicago Home' advocates claim money will help homeless Chicagoans, there is reason to worry about hurting 5,143 commercial properties with no guarantee how this 'mansion tax' will be used.
Pritzker plans to keep $45 your family should be taking off state taxes
Pritzker plans to keep $45 your family should be taking off state taxes
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed reduction of Illinois’ standard income tax exemption would increase taxes for over 11 million individuals. Some state leaders warn the effective tax hike would hit working families hardest.
By Patrick Andriesen
What you need to know about ‘Bring Chicago Home’
What you need to know about ‘Bring Chicago Home’
Chicago’s March 19 primary election includes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax hike to raise $100 million, dubbed “Bring Chicago Home.” Will higher taxes without a plan help homeless Chicagoans or hurt their job prospects?
By Dylan Sharkey
Appellate decision: Votes on Bring Chicago Home referendum will count
Appellate decision: Votes on Bring Chicago Home referendum will count
Votes on Chicago’s March 19 referendum will count, according to an Illinois Appellate Court ruling. Now voters must weigh the merits of the real estate transfer tax hike.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax would apply to 5,142 businesses
Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax would apply to 5,142 businesses
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and advocates for a hiked real estate transfer tax argue the rich need to pay their fair share, but many local businesses fall in their definition of “rich.”
By Dylan Sharkey
Pritzker wants to spend record amount but needs $898M in tax hikes to do it
Pritzker wants to spend record amount but needs $898M in tax hikes to do it
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record-setting $52.7 billion 2025 spending plan needs massive tax increases. Tax changes will hurt individuals, businesses and local governments.
By Bryce Hill
Editorial: Populist Pritzker and the fine print of his budget proposal
Editorial: Populist Pritzker and the fine print of his budget proposal
Tax hikes on businesses and individuals didn’t make the cut in Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address, but they’re a big part of his budget proposal.
Judge: Boot unconstitutional ‘mansion tax’ from March 19 ballot
Judge: Boot unconstitutional ‘mansion tax’ from March 19 ballot
A Cook County judge ruled Feb. 23 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “mansion tax” was unconstitutional and should be removed from the primary election ballot.
By Brad Weisenstein
Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’
Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’
Illinois is on an upward path, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his State of the State speech. True, by some measures. Not so much by too many measures that matter.
By Paul Vallas
Eliminating grocery tax would help Illinois families
Eliminating grocery tax would help Illinois families
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is supporting an end to Illinois’ 1% grocery tax. Illinois is one of only 13 states with a grocery tax, and the only one of the nation’s 10 largest states.
By Dylan Sharkey
Our perspective: Illinois’ state budget is nearly $13B higher today than it was 6 years ago
Our perspective: Illinois’ state budget is nearly $13B higher today than it was 6 years ago
Pritzker proposes to permanently repeal the 1% state grocery tax. That’s good. The ballooning size of the state budget, not so good.
By Hilary Gowins
2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution
2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution
The pandemic had an upside for Illinois state finances – infusing federal dollars as state revenues exceeded projections. Now federal aid is gone. Illinoisans’ ongoing struggles warrant caution, reform in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget.
By Bryce Hill
Opinion: Why Illinois’ state budget matters to you
Opinion: Why Illinois’ state budget matters to you
Illinois will spend over $50 billion this year to operate state government, which is $10 billion more than when J.B. Pritzker first started spending your taxes. Here are some reasons to pay attention to the upcoming state budget.
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest
Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest
Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.
By Bryce Hill