Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
More than half of Illinois voters want lawmakers to balance the budget by only cutting state spending.
Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services
Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services
A new proposal from state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights, would tax internet streaming services in Illinois, much like the potentially illegal internet streaming tax implemented in Chicago.
Illinois senator pitches expanding sales tax to tattoos, manicures and pedicures, more
Illinois senator pitches expanding sales tax to tattoos, manicures and pedicures, more
In the wake of the “grand bargain” budget plan failure, an Illinois politician has proposed applying the 6.25 percent state sales tax to a broad range of services.
The truth about your property tax bill
The truth about your property tax bill
Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for such costly promises as they struggle to find opportunities of their own.
Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown
Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown
The Senate adjourned yesterday without taking any votes on the "grand bargain."
10 reasons Illinois’ ‘grand bargain’ fails taxpayers
10 reasons Illinois’ ‘grand bargain’ fails taxpayers
The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget deal is full of tax hikes because it lacks the necessary spending reforms needed to right Illinois’ fiscal ship.
Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
On average, Illinois schools spend $13,077 per student.
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
The city’s latest taxpayer-funded development project reinforces the need to eliminate tax increment financing in favor of honest and transparent city budgeting.
5 questions, 5 guiding principles for an Illinois ‘grand bargain’ budget framework
5 questions, 5 guiding principles for an Illinois ‘grand bargain’ budget framework
Illinois lawmakers need a new approach to budget-making – one that takes into account the state’s financial mess, shows respect for taxpayers, and prioritizes spending to meet the needs of the poorest and most disadvantaged residents.
Tax increment financing: A primer
Tax increment financing: A primer
Local governments create TIF districts to encourage development in “blighted” areas; but TIFs often don’t deliver on promised economic benefits, while they do divert tax dollars from other uses and create opaque slush funds for the mayor to reward insider developers.
Court denies Madigan petition to stop state worker pay
Court denies Madigan petition to stop state worker pay
Lisa Madigan lost the first round in her quest to stop state worker pay during Illinois’ budget impasse. But that doesn’t mean the matter is settled. The attorney general could take this issue all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Rauner’s budget proposal needs more spending reforms
Rauner’s budget proposal needs more spending reforms
The governor should reject tax hikes and push for the structural spending reforms Illinois needs to fix its fiscal crisis and improve its economy.
State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
Illinois’ combined state and average local sales tax rate is the highest in the Midwest.
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Despite taxing both sales and income, Illinois has higher property taxes than every single state that does not charge an income tax.