Despite high tax bills, Des Plaines City Council buys theater for $1.3M
Despite high tax bills, Des Plaines City Council buys theater for $1.3M
Local leaders are putting taxpayers on the hook for a development gamble.
Rock Island County taxpayers can’t keep up with the rate of state spending
Rock Island County taxpayers can’t keep up with the rate of state spending
As the state continuously spends more than residents can afford, taxpayers in Rock Island County have seen little income growth.
City of Springfield passes unbalanced budget despite bevy of new tax hikes
City of Springfield passes unbalanced budget despite bevy of new tax hikes
The city's budget for fiscal year 2019 was accompanied by increases in sales and telecom taxes. But local officials still anticipate a deficit.
Carl and Dewana Perry
Carl and Dewana Perry
“We’re a Navy family. One of the things Navy families do is move frequently. When we bought this place, we intended on staying in it at least until we retired and moved back down south to Mississippi, which was always in the cards. “We worry about the value of course four, five years down the...
Bryan Reehoff
Bryan Reehoff
“I’ve had about 17 years of buying and selling homes. “There’s some good deals here. I’ve looked at some pretty big properties here. But the bigger commercial pieces are cheap because the taxes are high. “We’re actively trying to buy more commercial property, and the realtors say ‘go ahead and pass [the property taxes] on...
Sangamon County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?
Sangamon County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?
Sangamon County billed homeowners $215 million in 2017. This meant owners of a $127,000 Springfield home had a $2,600 property tax bill.
Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending
Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending
Residents in Madison and St. Clair counties find themselves fleeced by lawmakers' failure to control state finances.
Lake Bluff consolidation proposal could save taxpayers $500K
Lake Bluff consolidation proposal could save taxpayers $500K
A joint service agreement between two fire departments could save Lake Bluff more than $500,000 over five years, once fully implemented. The plan would be a welcome change of pace for residents, as Lake County homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.
Shrinking Decatur to face budgetary hurdles in coming year
Shrinking Decatur to face budgetary hurdles in coming year
After passing an unbalanced budget in 2017, Decatur will have to address its declining population and revenue as it looks ahead to crafting future budgets.
Report: Cook County property tax assessment process unfair to poorer homeowners
Report: Cook County property tax assessment process unfair to poorer homeowners
A new study confirms Cook County's broken property tax assessment system causes owners of lower-value homes to bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.
The most misleading myths in Illinois politics
The most misleading myths in Illinois politics
Fixing what ails the state requires Illinoisans of all political stripes to be honest about how they got here.
McHenry Township voters will get a voice on local government consolidation
McHenry Township voters will get a voice on local government consolidation
Following years of work by consolidation advocates, the McHenry Township board of trustees passed a motion allowing voters to decide whether to dissolve their local road district in November.
Do Illinois homeowners get any bang for their property tax buck?
Do Illinois homeowners get any bang for their property tax buck?
From 2005 to 2015, home values are down, property taxes are up and educational outcomes haven't seen a big improvement.
House bill would cap growth in sky-high administrative spending at Illinois schools
House bill would cap growth in sky-high administrative spending at Illinois schools
Illinois' spending on administrative costs is among the highest in the nation, sapping scarce dollars from the classroom. But a new bill would slow the growth in these expenses and align them with taxpayers' ability to pay.