Budget + Tax

George and Jane Mann

George and Jane Mann

“We were both born and raised here in Illinois. We just celebrated 60 years of marriage. All of our children and grandchildren live in Johnsburg. That’s the only thing keeping us here. For people on Social Security and fixed incomes the property tax issue is really hurting us. It’s just too bad. I used to...

Rahm pushes for tax on plastic bags

Rahm pushes for tax on plastic bags

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to add another layer to the city’s plastic bag ban – a 7-cent tax – despite the ban’s unintended, harmful consequences.

Pardess Mitchell

Pardess Mitchell

“I was born and raised in Illinois. We’ve been living here in Lake County for 16 years, my husband and I. But our property taxes have gone up $5,000 over the past four years. The property taxes are now more than our mortgage – we’re paying more than $15,000 a year on a home we...

Illinois needs a property-tax cap

Illinois needs a property-tax cap

Limiting how much units of government can raise taxes could provide much-needed relief for overtaxed Illinoisans.