Illinois owes over $250 billion in pension debt
Illinois owes over $250 billion in pension debt
Moody’s Investors Service cited Illinois’ $250 billion in pension debt and the lengthy budget impasse as reasons for its one-notch credit downgrade.
Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items
Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items
Though Illinois Democrats insist Gov. Bruce Rauner’s reform agenda has nothing to do with the state’s budget, Rauner’s original proposed spending reforms would allow the state to balance its budget without hitting up taxpayers for more revenue.
Illinois has the lowest credit rating on record for a U.S. state
Illinois has the lowest credit rating on record for a U.S. state
S&P cited Illinois lawmakers’ failure to pass a budget and the lengthy budget impasse as reasons for its one-notch credit downgrade. Over the years, Illinois’ state credit rating has been downgraded multiple times due to massive spending and excessive borrowing.
Illinois should make public university tuition more affordable – not subsidize inflated costs with tax dollars
Illinois should make public university tuition more affordable – not subsidize inflated costs with tax dollars
House Bill 1316 would force taxpayers to help fill the gap between high tuition costs and student affordability. The bill would increase government spending, but undermine Illinois’ public colleges and universities' incentive to lower tuition costs to compete for students.
Illinois fiscal collapse began long before the 2-year budget impasse
Illinois fiscal collapse began long before the 2-year budget impasse
Illinois’ budgetary mess preceded Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tenure, with years of gimmicks, borrowing and broken promises.
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to require truth-in-labeling for catfish
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to require truth-in-labeling for catfish
With legislative session winding down and several items critical to taxpayers yet to be tackled, lawmakers passed a bill regulating the sale of catfish in restaurants.
Illinois income tax hike to 5% opens door for a progressive tax hike
Illinois income tax hike to 5% opens door for a progressive tax hike
An income tax hike to 5 percent makes a call for a progressive tax system during the 2018 gubernatorial race a much easier sell.
Illinois has higher gas prices than national average, all neighboring states, heading into Memorial Day weekend
Illinois has higher gas prices than national average, all neighboring states, heading into Memorial Day weekend
Motorists in Chicago face higher gas prices than the national and state average, due in part to the multiple layers of taxes heaped upon by state, county and local government.
Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators
Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators
A DuPage County school district is severing ties with two administrators before their contracts expire, and it’s going to cost taxpayers.
Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium
Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium
The village of Rosemont is moving forward on a $60 million taxpayer-funded baseball stadium.
Fact-checking BGA’s claims on ‘low-spending’ Illinois
Fact-checking BGA’s claims on ‘low-spending’ Illinois
While the Better Government Association has claimed Illinois’ budget contains no fat to trim, a deeper analysis reveals the state has many areas of expensive inefficiency to reform in state and local government costs, the Medicaid program and K-12 education.
Illinois Senate Democrats pass $5.4B tax increase
Illinois Senate Democrats pass $5.4B tax increase
Each Illinois household would pay an additional $1,125 in taxes each year, on average, under the Senate's tax-hike plan.
7 Illinois properties rank among nation’s top 100 property tax bills
7 Illinois properties rank among nation’s top 100 property tax bills
Though most of the top 100 property tax bills came from New York, the state with the second most entries was Illinois. The 13th highest bill in the country belonged to Exelon’s nuclear generating station in Byron, Illinois, totaling $36.5 million in 2016.
Illinois owes $3.5M in past-due utility bills
Illinois owes $3.5M in past-due utility bills
The state government owes the City Water, Light and Power of Springfield $3.5 million on past-due utility bills for state offices. The past-due utility bills are just one part of Illinois’ more than $14.3 billion bill backlog.