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.
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
The Civic Federation’s budget plan repeats old mistakes with multibillion-dollar tax hikes and no serious, structural reform.
Education finance solutions
Education finance solutions
Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle grow more and more powerful as the size of state and local government increases.
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
Lawmakers need to look at the state’s major spending drivers instead of increasing taxes, which will continue to drive more people out of the state.
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
Despite the fact that the average AFSCME worker makes over $100,000 a year in total compensation, the union has made health care, salary and benefit demands that are out of line with what Illinois taxpayers can afford and would aggravate the state’s financial crisis.
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
The proposal would be part of the Senate’s “grand bargain,” which also includes a multibillion-dollar income tax hike.
Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes
Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes
A new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois has experienced falling tax collections, which may indicate trouble in the state economy; spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.
As enrollment drops 50%, Chicago State University continues work on new $60M campus
As enrollment drops 50%, Chicago State University continues work on new $60M campus
Lawmakers should address wasteful spending in higher education, which is hurting students, their families, instructors and taxpayers.
A solution to the property tax problem
A solution to the property tax problem
Illinois has by far the most units of government in the nation, at nearly 7,000.
Illinois lawmakers can avoid a government shutdown and a bad budget deal by passing an appropriations measure
Illinois lawmakers can avoid a government shutdown and a bad budget deal by passing an appropriations measure
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is seeking a court order to stop paychecks to state employees. Many speculate she is trying to force the General Assembly into a budget deal – one that would be bad for Illinoisans. But the General Assembly doesn’t have to be bullied into a bad budget deal. It can pass an appropriations measure to fund state worker payrolls and keep government from shutting down.
Fitch downgrades Illinois’ credit rating
Fitch downgrades Illinois’ credit rating
The New York-based credit agency cited the lack of action on a budget as the primary reason for the downgrade.
Chicago’s new plastic bag tax goes into effect Feb. 1
Chicago’s new plastic bag tax goes into effect Feb. 1
The new tax on plastic bags is Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s latest revenue grab.