Cook County Board approves soda tax
Cook County Board approves soda tax
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of new tax on sugary and artificially sweetened beverages.
S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade
S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade
Standard & Poor’s sent Chicago Public Schools’ credit rating deeper into junk territory in the wake of the new $9.5 billion teachers’ contract. The ratings firm said the new contract will make the district’s financial crisis worse.
Judge greenlights class-action status for lawsuit over Chicago red-light- and speed-camera tickets
Judge greenlights class-action status for lawsuit over Chicago red-light- and speed-camera tickets
The ruling could affect 1.5 million motorists.
Alderman proposes charging admission to Taste of Chicago, Blues, and Jazz festivals
Alderman proposes charging admission to Taste of Chicago, Blues, and Jazz festivals
Chicago alderman suggests admission charge to sponsored festivals as way to raise revenue.
Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings
Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings
Each year, the City Council holds hearings for every city department to justify their annual appropriation. These hearings are sparsely attended and rarely touch on spending. This year, more than half of Chicago aldermen skipped budget hearings.
Transportation “lockbox” amendment is a bad idea
Transportation “lockbox” amendment is a bad idea
The Illinois Constitution shouldn't be trivialized by a convoluted mess of budget restrictions.
Average Metropolitan Water Reclamation District employee makes nearly $100K per year
Average Metropolitan Water Reclamation District employee makes nearly $100K per year
Government employees responsible for managing water quality are earning six-figure salaries, despite a recent history of slacking on taxpayers’ time.
Rahm’s 2017 budget: No significant reforms to help Chicago taxpayers
Rahm’s 2017 budget: No significant reforms to help Chicago taxpayers
In his annual budget address, Mayor Rahm Emanuel provided an optimistic outlook on city finances, but no major reforms to give taxpayers reason to smile.
Sharon Wilbeck
Sharon Wilbeck
“Enough is enough. Our property taxes are some of the highest in the nation. People are having to move out of their homes because of it. That’s despicable. Businesses and people are leaving. Our good friends moved to Wisconsin for that very reason. We downsized and we’re doing OK, but for how long we don’t...
George and Jane Mann
George and Jane Mann
“We were both born and raised here in Illinois. We just celebrated 60 years of marriage. All of our children and grandchildren live in Johnsburg. That’s the only thing keeping us here. For people on Social Security and fixed incomes the property tax issue is really hurting us. It’s just too bad. I used to...
Poll shows high taxes encouraging Illinoisans to leave the state
Poll shows high taxes encouraging Illinoisans to leave the state
Nearly half of respondents said they would like to leave the state, including almost two-thirds of millennials.
Tax protests come to Chicago
Tax protests come to Chicago
Illinois Tax Revolution takes to the city streets over rising property taxes.
Rahm pushes for tax on plastic bags
Rahm pushes for tax on plastic bags
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to add another layer to the city’s plastic bag ban – a 7-cent tax – despite the ban’s unintended, harmful consequences.
“Lockbox” amendment will decide how transportation funds can be spent
“Lockbox” amendment will decide how transportation funds can be spent
Voters will have the opportunity in November to decide, by way of a constitutional amendment, whether lawmakers should be able to divert transportation funds toward other priorities.