Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois
Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois
Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.
By Brendan Bakala
Cook County’s budget problems stem from massive growth in payrolls
Cook County’s budget problems stem from massive growth in payrolls
The average salary for Cook County workers has far outpaced that of the typical Cook County household since 2001, and that’s contributed to the county’s fiscal ills.
By Chris Lentino
Illinois’ new budget already has $1.7B hole despite largest permanent tax hike in state history
Illinois’ new budget already has $1.7B hole despite largest permanent tax hike in state history
Every budget through 2023 will likely be unbalanced as well.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes
Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes
Consolidating governments in the collar counties could help lower residents’ high property taxes.
State taxpayers will be paying for CPS’ underutilized schools
State taxpayers will be paying for CPS’ underutilized schools
Under Illinois’ new education funding formula, the wildly mismanaged Chicago school district won’t lose a dime in state funding, no matter how many students it loses.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Taxpayers should flex their muscle, pick their punches
Taxpayers should flex their muscle, pick their punches
If aggrieved taxpayers don’t also demand fixes to underlying spending problems, calls for additional tax hikes will return. And they’ll be stronger than ever.
By Austin Berg
Taxpayer victory: Cook County soda tax repealed
Taxpayer victory: Cook County soda tax repealed
With the repeal of the Cook County sweetened beverage tax, taxpayers remind elected officials who they represent.
By Chris Lentino
Illinois borrows $1.5B as S&P confirms rating is one notch above junk
Illinois borrows $1.5B as S&P confirms rating is one notch above junk
S&P Global Ratings has warned that Illinois’ bond sale to help pay old bills could merely add more debt to Illinois’ burden if the state does not also enact fiscal reforms.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Sweetened beverage tax repeal passes out of committee
Sweetened beverage tax repeal passes out of committee
The Cook County Board Finance Committee voted Oct. 10 in favor of an ordinance to repeal the unpopular sweetened beverage tax. The repeal measure now awaits a vote before the full board.
By Brendan Bakala
Billions in unpaid health care bills shine a light on overly generous benefits
Billions in unpaid health care bills shine a light on overly generous benefits
State workers receive a platinum-level health care plan at a heavily subsidized cost, while Illinoisans in the private sector paying for those plans see their own premiums skyrocket.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Wheeling to use $1 million in TIF funds to build bridge to nowhere
Wheeling to use $1 million in TIF funds to build bridge to nowhere
Wheeling village trustees have voted for a plan to use tax increment financing to build a bridge to a vacant piece of land.
By Amy Korte
Preckwinkle admits soda tax was ‘first and foremost’ about revenue
Preckwinkle admits soda tax was ‘first and foremost’ about revenue
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle shared an admission that the soda tax was always about revenue.
By Chris Lentino
Illinois home to higher ‘sin taxes’ than every neighboring state
Illinois home to higher ‘sin taxes’ than every neighboring state
Illinois ranks eighth in the nation for state and local excise and selective sales tax collections.
By Brendan Bakala
Illinois’ next tax hike could mean pain at the pump
Illinois’ next tax hike could mean pain at the pump
A proposed increase in gas taxes to pay for state infrastructure spending would impose another burden on overtaxed Illinoisans.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner