Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Illinois’ broken budgeting process allows legislators to hand taxpayer money to podcasting and production studios.
Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior
Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior
Illinois lawmakers claim the state saved nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2026, but most “savings” are either from federal decisions or shifting costs, not serious fiscal restraint.
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
State lawmakers voted to hike road tolls in 2027, even though the state has billions in the road fund it’s not using. Some drivers are reconsidering their commutes; Laura Valdez explains why she cut toll roads out of her routine years ago.
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Pro-growth policies and fiscal responsibility can ensure Illinois’ long-term budget health. Here’s how state leaders can do it.
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Some Illinois lawmakers handed money to their local business associations. Should everyone’s taxes subsidize certain groups because their lawmakers had clout?
Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped
Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped
White County joined Rock Island in altering tax sale rules to stop equity theft. The moves are intended to protect them from an unconstitutional state law.
Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Illinois lawmakers funded a Hispanic chamber of commerce connected to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Its chief opposes ICE deportations.
Illinois No. 3 in U.S. for high gas taxes
Illinois No. 3 in U.S. for high gas taxes
Illinoisans pay the third-highest gas taxes in the nation at nearly $0.85 per gallon. California leads and Michigan edged into the No. 2 spot.
Illinois politicians still want boosted tax power
Illinois politicians still want boosted tax power
The Illinois Constitution stops politicians from imposing progressive taxation, which would give them power to progressively tax everyone more.
Trucking industry vet calls Illinois toll hike needless punishment
Trucking industry vet calls Illinois toll hike needless punishment
Illinois toll rates are about to increase as a political favor to construction unions. That’s despite a $3 billion surplus in the road fund.
Cook County property tax delays hit Evanston, other schools
Cook County property tax delays hit Evanston, other schools
Cook County’s delayed property tax bills are straining school districts with nearly $122 million in unexpected, unneeded costs.
Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism
Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism
Illinois’ rushed, closed-door budgeting process funded $700,000 in taxpayer dollars to a research group promoting “decolonization.”
Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage
Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage
Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else.
Waste watch: Illinois funnels $4.6M to children’s sports camp
Waste watch: Illinois funnels $4.6M to children’s sports camp
Illinois lawmakers gave $4.6 million to A Ray of Hope on Earth, a sports camp for children. The grants were 10 times the group’s 2023 budget.