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.
AFSCME pressuring Cook County Commissioners to raise sales, alcohol, parking and cigarette taxes
AFSCME pressuring Cook County Commissioners to raise sales, alcohol, parking and cigarette taxes
AFSCME officials proposed seven tax increases for Cook County as a way to save union jobs, including an increase in the county sales tax, a new head tax and doubling the amusement tax to 6 percent, despite the county’s local tax burden already being among the highest in the nation.
While Chicago Public Schools calls for state bailout, Chicago TIF districts bring in record $561M in revenue in 2016
While Chicago Public Schools calls for state bailout, Chicago TIF districts bring in record $561M in revenue in 2016
Slush fund hits record amounts as Chicago looks to the state for a bailout.
CPS to spend an additional $200 per student for the 2017-18 school year
CPS to spend an additional $200 per student for the 2017-18 school year
Cash-strapped and debt-ridden Chicago Public Schools plans to increase per-pupil funding by roughly $200 a student over last year’s budget.
School district sues Mount Prospect, Ill., over TIF
School district sues Mount Prospect, Ill., over TIF
The case against Mount Prospect, Ill., shows how tax increment financing districts siphon tax money from school districts and other taxing bodies, and diverts needed resources and puts pressure on taxpayers to make up the difference.
Illinois’ $5B tax hike will be eaten up by this year’s pension payment
Illinois’ $5B tax hike will be eaten up by this year’s pension payment
Illinoisans can take a look at their paystubs and notice the state decided to hike their income tax bill by 32 percent.
Fitch keeps Illinois’ credit above junk but negative outlook remains
Fitch keeps Illinois’ credit above junk but negative outlook remains
Of the three major ratings agencies, only Moody’s Investors Service has indicated that Illinois lawmakers’ lack of long-term solutions for reducing that debt is a severe problem.
Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold
Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold
An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. The Cook County sheriff’s office has sent out 110 layoff notices, citing the soda tax holdup. These layoffs come on top of 300 county worker layoffs. Cook County officials claim at least 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.
Illinois school finance bill bails out Chicago
Illinois school finance bill bails out Chicago
A bill that has passed the Illinois House and Senate would provide CPS with a $215 million pension bailout and other funding carve-outs.
Illinois comptroller’s plan to pay off state’s bill backlog includes borrowing more money
Illinois comptroller’s plan to pay off state’s bill backlog includes borrowing more money
Even with 32 percent tax hike, Illinois State Comptroller expects only $5 billion of the state’s unpaid bills to be paid down.
Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them
Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them
Illinois homeowners’ property taxes are among the highest in the nation. They are consuming more and more of Illinoisans’ incomes.
Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect
Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect
An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. Cook County officials claim 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.
Emanuel shrugs at possible credit downgrade for Chicago
Emanuel shrugs at possible credit downgrade for Chicago
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed little concern over Moody’s Investors Service’s announcement that it might downgrade Chicago’s already-junk-rated bonds over CPS budget problems.