Report: More than one-third of Chicago city workers make more than $100K annually
Report: More than one-third of Chicago city workers make more than $100K annually
Median pay for city workers was nearly $93,000 in 2016.
Illinois House passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships
Illinois House passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships
After failing to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, which stripped a Chicago bailout from the education funding proposal, Illinois House members voted to pass a compromise bill containing the state’s first-ever tax credit scholarship program.
Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law Aug. 25 imposing fines for the sale of mislabeled catfish.
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
A bill Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed Aug. 25 would have imposed new regulations and fees upon businesses to enforce trampoline safety measures.
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois school districts spent $1 billion on district-level administration in fiscal year 2014 – more than any other state.
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Since 2006, Chicago Public Schools has been deprived of $2.5 billion in property tax revenue that has been diverted to Chicago TIF districts.
After soda tax, Preckwinkle doles out premium perks and bonuses
After soda tax, Preckwinkle doles out premium perks and bonuses
After threatening thousands of job cuts, President Preckwinkle agrees to a lucrative contract with one of Cook County’s unions.
Chicago City Council records reveal severe shortage of serious legislation
Chicago City Council records reveal severe shortage of serious legislation
Substantive ordinances make up less than 2 percent of all legislation considered by the current City Council over the past two years.
Moody’s warns delay of state funding for Illinois schools a ‘credit negative’
Moody’s warns delay of state funding for Illinois schools a ‘credit negative’
School funding is locked up due to the current fight in Springfield over the state’s new education funding formula and the bailout of Chicago Public Schools it contains.
Government consolidation gains momentum, but there’s more to be done
Government consolidation gains momentum, but there’s more to be done
Illinois is taking small steps toward consolidating some of its duplicitous local governments, but bold reforms are needed to start addressing the state’s nearly 7,000 taxing bodies, the most in the nation.
Cook County officials claim resolution of food stamp soda tax problems
Cook County officials claim resolution of food stamp soda tax problems
Retailers will now have to either program cash registers not to tax purchases made with food stamps, or implement a “manual override.”
Suburban, downstate Latino students benefit from amendatory veto of education bill
Suburban, downstate Latino students benefit from amendatory veto of education bill
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendments to Senate Bill 1 bring nearly $54 million more to the 10 school districts with the highest Latino student enrollment outside Chicago.
House Democrats file bill to repeal Cook County soda tax
House Democrats file bill to repeal Cook County soda tax
House Bill 4083 is the second bill in the Illinois General Assembly to propose getting rid of Cook County’s unpopular soda tax.
Phelps’ choice: $5M more for local schools or a Chicago bailout?
Phelps’ choice: $5M more for local schools or a Chicago bailout?
Defenders of Senate Bill 1 are putting a bailout of Chicago Public Schools ahead of their own local school districts.