Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed a $21-per-employee monthly tax on large companies to help fill a nearly $1.2 billion shortfall. Business leaders and even a former mayor say the “head tax” could kill job creation and new investment.
Lawmakers may approve a statewide delivery tax on Doordash and Uber Eats to fund Chicago transit, hitting all Illinoisans who shop online, even those who don’t use CTA, Metra or Pace.
The Chicago Transit Authority’s 2026 budget includes scenarios dependent on state funding along with a 25-cent fare hike on bus and rail.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal includes a per-user tax on social media companies and a per-employee fee on businesses. The proposal does not include a property tax hike and supports the elimination of the grocery tax.
Chicago homeowners on the South and West Sides are bracing for huge property tax hikes, driven by surging assessments and government spending tied to pensions.
Prices for DoorDash, Uber, Ticketmaster and Illinois tolls might go up now to cover $1.5 billion for Illinois transit agencies. A real estate transfer tax for homes in the Chicago suburbs is also on the table.
Illinois taxpayers in 2024 owed an average of $38,800 each, ranking No. 3 in the U.S. Illinois earned an “F” for fiscal management.
Chicago missed the Oct. 1 deadline to extend the grocery tax. Grocery shoppers will save $40 million for at least six months starting Jan. 1, 2026.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s task force outlined 39 ways to raise up to $1.65 billion to close Chicago’s 2026 budget deficit. More taxes is the wrong answer.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said state agencies need to trim 4%, blaming President Donald Trump and a slowing national economy. Illinois’ economic woes started long before Trump.
New taxes on Uber, automatic property tax hikes and higher liquor taxes are all being pushed as Chicago leaders seek to spend $1 billion more than they will have.
Sports betting in Illinois comes with the fifth-highest taxes in the nation. Users on FanDuel, DraftKings or other sites had new fees start in September – just in time for the NFL regular season.
Peoria Heights’ mayor vetoed a grocery tax, saying the village would not balance its budget on the backs of families at the grocery checkout. Now Chicago is considering taking $73.5 million through the tax.
If Illinois state lawmakers are not going to spend the $3.3 billion sitting in the state’s road fund, drivers should get a break from the taxes going into it. Illinois gasoline taxes are No. 2 in the U.S.