Chicago utility-tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Chicago utility-tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Under a taxpayer bill of rights, Chicago City Council would have to seek voter approval before raising taxes.
Chicagoans on the hook for $34B in debt from city’s 4 pension funds
Chicagoans on the hook for $34B in debt from city’s 4 pension funds
Chicago’s pension funds’ debt grew by two-thirds to $34 billion in 2015. That’s $33,000 of pension debt per Chicago household.
Illinois state rep calls delayed lawmaker pay ‘extortion and corruption’
Illinois state rep calls delayed lawmaker pay ‘extortion and corruption’
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, criticized payment delays for Illinois politicians, despite the fact that his compensation cost taxpayers nearly $100,000 in 2015.
Number of Chicago city workers making $100K+ has doubled since 2013
Number of Chicago city workers making $100K+ has doubled since 2013
Nearly 5,000 Chicago city workers make six-figure salaries, driving up the payroll and pension costs overtaxed city residents must pay.
Illinois will resume mailing license-plate-renewal reminders
Illinois will resume mailing license-plate-renewal reminders
Due to funds provided through the stopgap budget, the Illinois secretary of state’s office will resume mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in August.
Illinois’ stopgap budget spends $8B more than the state takes in
Illinois’ stopgap budget spends $8B more than the state takes in
Under the stopgap budget, Illinois will spend $8 billion more than it collects in tax revenues; Illinois needs to enact major reforms to rein in its out-of-control spending and avoid billions in tax hikes.
Rauner signs bill to limit local government travel expenses
Rauner signs bill to limit local government travel expenses
New law would tackle wasteful spending by local governments, and be a welcome change for taxpayers.
Peru City Council votes to put township consolidation question on November ballot
Peru City Council votes to put township consolidation question on November ballot
Taxpayers in Peru, Ill. will have the option this November to dissolve their township, which could eliminate waste and ease their tax burden.
The cost of Illinois’ lawmakers
The cost of Illinois’ lawmakers
Illinois lawmakers pay themselves the fifth-highest annual lawmaker base salary in the country.
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
A law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in June allows Chicago to create new transit-based super TIFs, adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to divert and hoard property-tax dollars.
Dwyane Wade’s former house in South Holland, Ill., drops in value as property taxes soar
Dwyane Wade’s former house in South Holland, Ill., drops in value as property taxes soar
Property-tax hikes have caused taxes on NBA star Dwyane Wade’s former house to more than triple, driving away prospective buyers and showing the harm Illinois’ sky-high property-tax rates inflict on homeowners.
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid
Illinois lawmakers earn base salaries of nearly $68,000 for what is essentially part-time work.
Munger: Illinois’ unpaid bills projected to hit $10 billion by year’s end
Munger: Illinois’ unpaid bills projected to hit $10 billion by year’s end
The Illinois comptroller warns Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills will reach $10 billion by December.
Madison County, Ill., to voters: Want to reduce your property taxes?
Madison County, Ill., to voters: Want to reduce your property taxes?
A referendum allowing Madison County taxpayers to decide if they want to limit their tax burden is a choice all Illinoisans should have.