Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House
Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House
House Bill 696 would freeze property taxes across the state. Under the plan, local governments could still increase rates, but only with approval from voters. The bill doesn’t apply to home-rule governments, however. That’s no small exemption: 7.8 million Illinoisans live in a home-rule municipality such Chicago, Naperville or Peoria. This number also doesn’t account for Cook County, which is also home-rule, and would be exempted from this property-tax freeze.
By Hilary Gowins
Progressive-tax proposal would favor corporations over small businesses, give Illinois 2nd-highest small business tax in U.S.
Progressive-tax proposal would favor corporations over small businesses, give Illinois 2nd-highest small business tax in U.S.
Under Lang’s plan, Illinois’ top tax rate for noncorporate businesses would become 11.25 percent — the second-highest rate in the U.S.
By Michael Lucci
Illinois progressive-tax proposal is a middle-class tax hike in disguise
Illinois progressive-tax proposal is a middle-class tax hike in disguise
A progressive tax would give Illinois politicians carte blanche to raise rates, which would end up sticking middle-class taxpayers with rates originally intended for “the rich” – all while chasing still more residents and businesses out of the state.
By Mark Adams
Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities
Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities
The Illinois House of Representatives voted against a proposal to freeze property taxes, denying much-needed relief to Illinoisans, who bear the third-highest property-tax burden in the nation.
By Hilary Gowins
Madigan’s ‘millionaire tax’ fails in House
Madigan’s ‘millionaire tax’ fails in House
The House speaker’s proposal to hike taxes on small businesses failed to garner the 71 necessary “yes” votes needed to pass out of the House on April 20.
By Hilary Gowins
Rahm plans to borrow $1.2 billion to construct Lucas museum
Rahm plans to borrow $1.2 billion to construct Lucas museum
The mayor’s plan to construct the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art includes more of the same bad policies that got Chicago into its fiscal crisis: a bid to borrow $1.2 billion and hike taxes on residents.
Comptroller announces paycheck delays for Illinois politicians, state officials
Comptroller announces paycheck delays for Illinois politicians, state officials
Total compensation for affected legislators and statewide officeholders equals about $1.3 million per month, according to the comptroller. On top of salaries, taxpayers also have to foot the bill for lawmaker pensions – in Illinois’ active legislators will each cost the state budget about $180,000 next year.
Illinois state income taxes: Who really pays?
Illinois state income taxes: Who really pays?
The top 18 percent of Illinois taxpayers cover more than 60 percent of the state’s income taxes, and the state’s millionaires pay 15 percent of Illinois’ income taxes.
By Michael Lucci
Cullerton backs away from proposal to tax Illinois drivers by the mile
Cullerton backs away from proposal to tax Illinois drivers by the mile
SB 3267 would introduce electronic driver tracking, and create a behemoth bureaucracy to keep tabs on Illinois drivers and figure out how to process tax credits.
By Hilary Gowins
6 reforms to end Illinois’ perpetual budget crisis
6 reforms to end Illinois’ perpetual budget crisis
Illinois needs a combination of constitutional and statutory changes to put and keep the state on sound fiscal footing and allow it to pay its providers and better prepare for emergencies.
By Donna Arduin
Will Lisa Madigan shut down Illinois state government?
Will Lisa Madigan shut down Illinois state government?
The Illinois attorney general – House Speaker Mike Madigan’s daughter – could play a major role in whether state lawmakers will pass a budget Illinoisans can afford.
By Austin Berg
Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes
Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes
Illinois' 859 local school districts consume nearly two-thirds of the $27 billion in local property taxes collected across the state each year.
By Austin Berg
Illinois House passes bill to suspend fines for late license-plate renewal
Illinois House passes bill to suspend fines for late license-plate renewal
The Illinois House has passed a bill to prohibit charging late fees to vehicle owners who renew their registration late due to the secretary of state’s suspension of mailed reminders.
By Amy Korte