Tax increases will cost back-to-school shoppers in Illinois
Tax increases will cost back-to-school shoppers in Illinois
Illinois parents will pay the Midwest’s highest sales taxes on back-to-school shopping.
Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time
Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time
Twenty school districts in the Metro East rely on the state for 30 percent or more of their total revenue.
New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
The tax makes soda sold in Chicago among the most expensive in the country.
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
High-priced government workers cost taxpayers in Illinois $10 billion a year, with municipal managers in areas surrounding Chicago reaping the most benefits.
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
In trying to force a Chicago bailout, proponents of Senate Bill 1 are throwing hundreds of thousands of downstate and suburban students into limbo.
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
HB 643 will prevent the $50,000 daily cost of special sessions from rising even higher in fiscal year 2018.
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
House Joint Resolution 69 would create a special task force to investigate and report on state and local property tax assessment, appeals processes and other property tax policies.
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois’ high cigarette tax is a flighty source of revenue with unintended consequences.
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Many reforms are still needed in Illinois higher education system despite credit rating affirmations and upgrades to seven Illinois universities.
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
CPS’ 2017-18 budget shows cuts for many schools as student populations shrink, despite an increase in per-pupil spending for the district as a whole.
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
Senate Bill 1 is yet another unfair bailout of long-term mismanagement within Chicago Public Schools.
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
The special session will deal with Senate Bill 1, an education finance bill that contains an annual $215 million pension bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
Chicago suburbs eye new dining, alcohol taxes
Chicago suburbs eye new dining, alcohol taxes
Suburbs such as Downers Grove make dining out costlier through tax hikes.
Illinois’ 32% income tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Illinois’ 32% income tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Illinois taxpayers deserve to have a voice in budgeting decisions as politicians continually look to hike their taxes.