Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes
Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes
Absurdly high property taxes demand bold reforms from Illinois lawmakers. New recommendations from a state task force show exactly what kind.
By Austin Berg
Chicago PMI crashes, new orders and backlogs plunge to May 2009 level
Chicago PMI crashes, new orders and backlogs plunge to May 2009 level
The December Chicago purchasing managers’ index revealed weaknesses in the regional economy, including in the service sector.
Chicago’s sales tax now highest in the nation
Chicago’s sales tax now highest in the nation
The sales-tax hike Cook County officials approved in July takes effect Jan. 1, 2016, just in time for end-of-season holiday shopping deals.
By Hilary Gowins
New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier
New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier
Cook County’s new 1 percent hotel tax will raise Chicago’s combined hotel tax to 17.4 percent in 2016.
By Amy Korte
Déjà vu: Illinois faces $8.5 billion in unpaid bills and calls for a tax hike
Déjà vu: Illinois faces $8.5 billion in unpaid bills and calls for a tax hike
The 2011 income-tax hike was supposed to address the state’s unpaid bills and ailing government-worker pensions; but five years and $31 billion in additional revenues later, Illinois’ unpaid bills are back up to 2011 levels, and the state’s government-worker pension debt has soared to $111 billion.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
City of Chicago to Netflix subscribers: Bah, humbug!
City of Chicago to Netflix subscribers: Bah, humbug!
The Liberty Justice Center sued the city of Chicago in September to compel the city to stop collecting a 9 percent amusement tax on Internet-based streaming video, audio and gaming services.
By Jeffrey Schwab
Hear them ring: Illinois wireless taxes jack up the price of Christmas gifts
Hear them ring: Illinois wireless taxes jack up the price of Christmas gifts
Illinoisans pay more in wireless taxes than residents of any neighboring state.
By Austin Berg
This Christmas, property taxes are robbing the McCallisters
This Christmas, property taxes are robbing the McCallisters
The fictional family from “Home Alone” has paid nearly $750,000 in property taxes since the film’s release, and real Illinois families are struggling under a massive local tax burden.
By Austin Berg
Madigan skips meeting with leaders, governor
Madigan skips meeting with leaders, governor
Illinois has gone without a comprehensive budget for six months.
By Mark Fitton
Home is where the hurt is: How property taxes are crushing Illinois’ middle class
Home is where the hurt is: How property taxes are crushing Illinois’ middle class
Illinoisans’ property taxes are going up while salaries are stagnant at best.
Retirement-tax resolution
Retirement-tax resolution
Thirty-nine Illinois state representatives have signed on to a resolution stating their opposition to the imposition of a state tax on retirement income as revenue plans circulate ahead of state budget negotiations in 2016.
By Heather Weiner
Madigan wants to raise income taxes again
Madigan wants to raise income taxes again
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan says Illinois’ income taxes should be increased to at least 5 percent.
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois Lottery will pay winners starting Dec. 14
Illinois Lottery will pay winners starting Dec. 14
Funds provided through Senate Bill 2039, which Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law Dec. 7, will allow the Illinois Lottery to resume paying winning ticket holders.
By Hilary Gowins