Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois’ high cigarette tax is a flighty source of revenue with unintended consequences.
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Many reforms are still needed in Illinois higher education system despite credit rating affirmations and upgrades to seven Illinois universities.
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
CPS’ 2017-18 budget shows cuts for many schools as student populations shrink, despite an increase in per-pupil spending for the district as a whole.
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
Senate Bill 1 is yet another unfair bailout of long-term mismanagement within Chicago Public Schools.
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
The special session will deal with Senate Bill 1, an education finance bill that contains an annual $215 million pension bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
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.