Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007
Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007
Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue swamping Cook County homeowners.
Will County weighs new 4- to 8-cent countywide gas tax atop doubled Illinois tax
Will County weighs new 4- to 8-cent countywide gas tax atop doubled Illinois tax
County leaders may exercise new taxing authority from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan. Illinois already doubled its portion of the gas tax, pushing the total burden to No. 3 in nation.
Illinois’ film tax credit program is theatrically bad
Illinois’ film tax credit program is theatrically bad
Illinois’ film tax credit program is a slap in the face to the state’s small business community outside the spotlight, does little to grow good jobs and is rife with corruption.
Illinois imposing car trade-in tax on Jan. 1; Dealers call it double taxation
Illinois imposing car trade-in tax on Jan. 1; Dealers call it double taxation
The state collects no sales tax on trade-in value, but that changes next year. Car dealers call the $60 million to be collected ‘double taxation’ because trade-ins were taxed when purchased.
Gas tax hike moves Illinois’ pain at the pump to No. 3 in U.S.
Gas tax hike moves Illinois’ pain at the pump to No. 3 in U.S.
Data from the American Petroleum Institute confirms doubling Illinois’ motor fuel tax will bring total taxes paid at the pump to third highest in the nation, up from 10th highest a year earlier.
Progressive tax uncertainty could trip Illinois’ already-stumbling economy
Progressive tax uncertainty could trip Illinois’ already-stumbling economy
The elections scheduled for November 2020 are already injecting uncertainty into the economy, and the progressive income tax ballot question will make matters worse.
Illinois state lawmakers 4th-highest paid in nation
Illinois state lawmakers 4th-highest paid in nation
The budget signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker included a $1,600 pay raise for the Illinois General Assembly – which already collects the nation’s 4th-highest base salary for state lawmakers.
Illinois home values down 21%, property taxes up 9% since 2007
Illinois home values down 21%, property taxes up 9% since 2007
Without serious property tax relief – including pension reform – it is likely fewer will demand planting roots in Illinois.
Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation
Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation
The Illinois General Assembly passed budget that included a $1,600 pay raise for state lawmakers, who already rank among the nation’s highest paid.
Illinois gas tax hike comes packed with pork
Illinois gas tax hike comes packed with pork
Illinoisans deserve a pothole-free future. But are they getting a bang for their gas tax buck? Or is Pritzker’s $45 billion “Rebuild Illinois” program just another vehicle to deliver special favors? A deep dive into the capital plan points toward the latter, showing at least $1.25 billion in pork-barrel projects.
Cook County judge rules Illinois lawmakers cannot reject their own pay raises
Cook County judge rules Illinois lawmakers cannot reject their own pay raises
A circuit court judge sided with two former Illinois state lawmakers suing the state for back pay on past cost-of-living increases the Illinois General Assembly voted to freeze.
Doubling Illinois’ gas tax, other tax hikes will go to fund more than $1.4 billion of waste and pork
Doubling Illinois’ gas tax, other tax hikes will go to fund more than $1.4 billion of waste and pork
Lawmakers sold 20 new taxes and fees as necessary to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and balance the budget. Instead, taxpayers will be funding dog parks, swimming pools, snowmobile paths, a vacant theater and pickleball courts.
Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes blow up cost of Independence Day celebrations
Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes blow up cost of Independence Day celebrations
Ahead of Independence Day, Illinoisans near the state border exercise their freedom to purchase alcohol in low-tax neighboring states.
Collinsville drivers honked off at Illinois gas tax hike
Collinsville drivers honked off at Illinois gas tax hike
Protesters on July 1 greeted the doubled gasoline tax in Illinois. They warned that the 19-cent hike will hurt businesses near the state line, and poor people all across the state.