Budget + Tax

Illinois homeowners need relief, but don’t be duped by fake property tax reform

Effective property tax reform must rein in the government costs that drive up taxes.

Puerto Rico’s ‘bankruptcy’ a warning to Illinois

Illinois needs to enact structural spending reforms to avoid following Puerto Rico down the path to insolvency.

Illinois gave Glassdoor more than $6M in tax breaks in 2016

Glassdoor agreed to three sets of hiring dates in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in which the job-finding website would hire 240 new employees.

By Brendan Bakala

How Illinois can prepare for the Trump tax reforms

Local lawmakers should consider Trump’s plan and position the state to thrive under federal changes.

By Michael Lucci

5 consequences of Illinois’ bad budget deals

Another Band-Aid budget deal won’t fix the financial problems that plague Illinois or stop the state’s credit rating from falling to junk.

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

Southern Illinois’ wide range of property taxes

Jackson County has the highest median property taxes among the southernmost counties in Illinois, and falls in the state’s top 50 counties for highest property taxes. Meanwhile, Hardin County residents pay the lowest median property taxes in the state.

By Brendan Bakala

How Trump’s tax proposals would affect Illinois

The corporate tax reforms under President Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan could strengthen Illinois’ position as a home for businesses, but the state’s uncompetitive income, property and death tax policies would put its residents at an even greater disadvantage with respect to other states if the president’s plan passes.

By Michael Lucci

Illinois House passes bill to allow dissolution of township road districts

House Bill 607 would allow for the consolidation of a duplicative layer of government, something Illinois taxpayers desperately need.

Decatur property taxes put the hurt on remaining residents

With an average property tax bill of more than $2,000 a year, Decatur continues to hike taxes on a shrinking population.

By Austin Berg

Laura and Phil Valdez

“Our property taxes are 12 percent of our income. And this is an unincorporated area. “All our neighbors complain about it. People at work complain about it. You read so much about it. There’s a high level of frustration. Because they see what’s happening to their pocketbooks. They’re feeling the effects of it. “On property...

Illinois’ April 30 Tax Freedom Day tied for latest in Midwest

When it comes to taxes, everyone works for the government. Illinoisans worked 120 days – from Jan. 1 until April 30 – to pay the taxes they owe to federal, state and local governments.

By Craig Lesner

Illinois Tollway approves $4 billion Tri-State widening project

Despite the massive size and scope of the project to widen the Tri-State, the Illinois Tollway board suggests new tolls and taxes won’t be needed – but history shows that promises related to tolls in Illinois haven’t held up in the past.

Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation

Credit rating agencies have warned Illinois’ credit could slide into junk territory if the legislative session ends in May without a budget deal to get the state’s finances back on track.

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

Illinois House passes cursive writing mandate for schools

House Bill 2977 would require both public elementary schools and high schools to include cursive instruction in their curriculums, and the plan doesn’t include how much this unfunded state mandate would cost taxpayers.