Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville
Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville
As property tax bills land in mailboxes in Madison and St. Clair counties, TIF districts sap local tax dollars.
Moody’s downgrades 7 Illinois universities, 5 are junk
Moody’s downgrades 7 Illinois universities, 5 are junk
Illinois universities have hiked tuition and relied on state subsidies to pay for exorbitant administrative salaries — and now credit rating agencies are punishing them for that destructive behavior.
Lakewood right to push for elimination of TIF district
Lakewood right to push for elimination of TIF district
The village board of Lakewood, Illinois, will decide whether to keep a TIF district approved in 2015 in a vote scheduled for June 13.
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation requiring financial impact statements on executive orders, ignore cost of bills they pass
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation requiring financial impact statements on executive orders, ignore cost of bills they pass
House Bill 2379 would require fiscal impact statements on every executive order. However, less than 3 percent of bills enacted into law in the 99th General Assembly had fiscal notes.
A property tax freeze isn’t enough
A property tax freeze isn’t enough
One in six Illinois homeowners are seriously underwater.
Illinois budget deficit projected to hit $6.2B by June 30, grow to $7.7B by June 2018
Illinois budget deficit projected to hit $6.2B by June 30, grow to $7.7B by June 2018
The state’s bill backlog is expected to hit $22.7 billion and pension costs are predicted to grow 14 percent by fiscal year 2018.
Illinois’ pension debt grew by $25B during 2011 income tax hike
Illinois’ pension debt grew by $25B during 2011 income tax hike
Despite $30 billion in extra tax revenue, the politicians who passed Illinois’ 2011 income tax hike failed to solve Illinois’ pension crisis or pay off the state’s bill backlog.
A taxpayer bill of rights would protect residents and encourage lawmakers to budget responsibly
A taxpayer bill of rights would protect residents and encourage lawmakers to budget responsibly
Illinois needs a taxpayer bill of rights to urge policymakers to budget based on available revenue — or be prepared to subject tax increases to direct voter approval.
Teresa Fiorante
Teresa Fiorante
“I shouldn’t have to go live with my kids. I’ve done everything right to be independent, but now I can’t be independent. My property taxes have doubled, and it’s going to force me out of my home. It’s like they have a gun to your head: Pay this bill or leave the state.” Teresa Fiorante...
Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House
Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House
Senate Bill 1719 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers, but the spring legislative session ended with the Illinois House failing to call the measure for a vote.
Lawsuit seeks back pay for Illinois lawmakers
Lawsuit seeks back pay for Illinois lawmakers
Former state Sen. Michael Noland is suing for back pay after the General Assembly nixed cost-of-living adjustments and forced furlough days.
Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicagoans already pay the highest in the nation 911 surcharge and a newly passed bill would raise that rate even higher.
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to CPS.