Medline Industries has received $39.3M in tax credits in last 15 years
Medline Industries has received $39.3M in tax credits in last 15 years
A case study on the insider’s game of EDGE tax credits
Illinoisans will receive income-tax relief in 2015
Illinoisans will receive income-tax relief in 2015
With a lame-duck session dead in the water, the 2011 income-tax hikes will sunset on schedule; a minimum-wage debate will wait until Rauner takes office; and taxpayers will not be on the hook for a state-funded health insurance exchange.
Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner taking right first steps
Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner taking right first steps
The governor-elect has shown wisdom in his first steps to address budget challenges. Illinoisans should hope the trend continues once Rauner takes office.
It’s time for taxpayers to stop paying for the Ex-Im Bank
It’s time for taxpayers to stop paying for the Ex-Im Bank
The average American pays $6,000 in subsidies to corporations every year, but that gigantic chunk of taxpayer change simply is not enough for some special interests.
Illinois among states with highest income-tax burden on the poor
Illinois among states with highest income-tax burden on the poor
Illinois has the highest income taxes on the poor of almost any state in the country, but the solution is not simply to raise taxes on the wealthy, as some constantly push for in Illinois.
Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner’s balancing act begins with fiscal year 2015
Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner’s balancing act begins with fiscal year 2015
Fiscal year 2015 will be a key to future budget success. Is the governor-elect up to the task?
How Bruce Rauner can stop the bleeding
How Bruce Rauner can stop the bleeding
The governor-elect could deliver a blow to Illinois’ pension woes, with or without SB 1, by pushing for 401(k)-style plans.
Illinois corporate tax breaks serve as blank checks for big business
Illinois corporate tax breaks serve as blank checks for big business
Illinois taxpayers are the ones who must ultimately pay the price for crony deals.
2015 State Business Tax Climate Index: Illinois drops to 31st
2015 State Business Tax Climate Index: Illinois drops to 31st
Illinois’ burdensome tax climate for businesses will continue to hold the state back from creating jobs and growing the economy in 2015. The Tax Foundation issued its 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index, reporting that Illinois dropped two positions in the ranking since last year, to 31st from 29th. Prior to 2011, Illinois steadily ranked...
Chicago cellphone taxes highest in nation
Chicago cellphone taxes highest in nation
Everywhere they look, Chicagoans see ads urging them to switch their cellphone service. One major provider urges customers to purchase a four-line family plan with all the texting, talking and data one could possibly use for only $100 per month. But the ad fails to mention that a Chicago family would actually have to pay...
Illinois Tollway fees a good example of how Illinois politicians interpret ‘temporary’
Illinois Tollway fees a good example of how Illinois politicians interpret ‘temporary’
In the past two years, the Illinois Tollway Authority has filed lawsuits totaling $11 million against drivers who didn’t pay tolls – a fee that was originally sold to the public as “temporary.” When the Illinois Tollway was originally created in 1953, lawmakers used the revenue to pay for the original bonding needed to build...
Chicago’s budget includes higher tax rates for parking, vehicle leasing and cable TV
Chicago’s budget includes higher tax rates for parking, vehicle leasing and cable TV
Mayor Rahm Emanuel delivered his 2015 Chicago budget proposal to the City Council last week. He did so expressing pride that he did not increase property taxes, sales taxes or the gas tax – the big three taxes that support the city budget. That said, his budget proposal continues to nickel-and-dime Chicago taxpayers with new...
Kankakee County asks voters to hike county-level sales taxes by 800%
Kankakee County asks voters to hike county-level sales taxes by 800%
Kankakee County already has one of the highest average property tax rates in the country. In 2012, the Tax Foundation ranked Kankakee County as having the 79th-highest property taxes in the nation out of more than 800 of the largest counties in the U.S. Soon, Kankakee County could have one of the highest sales-tax rates...
School districts should stop using tax dollars to support ballot measures
School districts should stop using tax dollars to support ballot measures
Should a school district be allowed to use your tax dollars to promote a ballot measure that would raise sales taxes? Of course not. In fact, the Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act requires all units of local government, including school boards, to adopt policies prohibiting their officials and employees from using government resources...