Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
A potential 2 percent dine-in tax imposed on Springfield restaurants has yet to be introduced, but the idea - which other towns have tried - is not a welcome one.
6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
Illinoisans shoulder some of the highest property taxes in the country. This burden is key to understanding the state's outmigration problem. Despite the failure of lawmakers to reverse this crisis, there remain a number of sound reforms waiting for consideration.
By Vincent Caruso
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Some Madison County townships could see their costs go up, which could drive up property taxes.
By Brendan Bakala
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
A recent analysis ranked 75 of the most populated cities in terms of fiscal health - and placed the Windy City next to dead-last.
By Vincent Caruso
The audacity of broke
The audacity of broke
Illinois is broke. But leaders don’t act like it.
By Austin Berg
Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
The Taxpayer Fiscal Charter Act would demand funding transparency before spending bills make their way out of Springfield.
By Vincent Caruso
Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan
Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan
An order currently under consideration by Chicago City Council challenges the assessments of seven properties, four of which have been the subject of property tax appeals by the law firms of Chicago Alderman Ed Burke or Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
By Brendan Bakala
Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery
Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery
Illinois will not diverge from its path of poor growth until lawmakers realize the failures of recent tax hikes.
By Orphe Divounguy
Naperville aims to raise taxes on cellphones, Airbnb
Naperville aims to raise taxes on cellphones, Airbnb
Illinois' fifth-largest city is moving to raise taxes on telecommunications and hotels, and fold homesharing into the latter.
By Vincent Caruso
Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider
Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider
Under the guise of rehabilitating underserved communities, Chicago City Council approved another tax transfer to a private company.
By Vincent Caruso
Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties
Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties
Alderman Ricardo Munoz's proposal highlights seven expensive properties in or around the Loop that aldermen contend were underassessed, shifting the property tax burden to other property owners.
By Brendan Bakala
New bill empowers voters to eliminate McHenry County townships
New bill empowers voters to eliminate McHenry County townships
House Bill 4244 would give McHenry County voters an easier path to having a choice in eliminating their township governments, encouraging consolidation in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.
Hold on to your wallets, Springfield back in session for 2018
Hold on to your wallets, Springfield back in session for 2018
With statewide elections in November, the 2018 forecast calls for gridlock.
By Austin Berg