Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest
On average, Illinois schools spend $13,077 per student.
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
Chicago officials announce $325K in TIF spending … on batting cages
The city’s latest taxpayer-funded development project reinforces the need to eliminate tax increment financing in favor of honest and transparent city budgeting.
5 questions, 5 guiding principles for an Illinois ‘grand bargain’ budget framework
5 questions, 5 guiding principles for an Illinois ‘grand bargain’ budget framework
Illinois lawmakers need a new approach to budget-making – one that takes into account the state’s financial mess, shows respect for taxpayers, and prioritizes spending to meet the needs of the poorest and most disadvantaged residents.
Tax increment financing: A primer
Tax increment financing: A primer
Local governments create TIF districts to encourage development in “blighted” areas; but TIFs often don’t deliver on promised economic benefits, while they do divert tax dollars from other uses and create opaque slush funds for the mayor to reward insider developers.
Court denies Madigan petition to stop state worker pay
Court denies Madigan petition to stop state worker pay
Lisa Madigan lost the first round in her quest to stop state worker pay during Illinois’ budget impasse. But that doesn’t mean the matter is settled. The attorney general could take this issue all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Rauner’s budget proposal needs more spending reforms
Rauner’s budget proposal needs more spending reforms
The governor should reject tax hikes and push for the structural spending reforms Illinois needs to fix its fiscal crisis and improve its economy.
State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
Illinois’ combined state and average local sales tax rate is the highest in the Midwest.
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Despite taxing both sales and income, Illinois has higher property taxes than every single state that does not charge an income tax.
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
The Civic Federation’s budget plan repeats old mistakes with multibillion-dollar tax hikes and no serious, structural reform.
Education finance solutions
Education finance solutions
Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle grow more and more powerful as the size of state and local government increases.
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
Lawmakers need to look at the state’s major spending drivers instead of increasing taxes, which will continue to drive more people out of the state.
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
Despite the fact that the average AFSCME worker makes over $100,000 a year in total compensation, the union has made health care, salary and benefit demands that are out of line with what Illinois taxpayers can afford and would aggravate the state’s financial crisis.
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
The proposal would be part of the Senate’s “grand bargain,” which also includes a multibillion-dollar income tax hike.