Rauner signs bill banning ticket quotas in Chicago
Rauner signs bill banning ticket quotas in Chicago
Chicago will no longer be exempted from a state law barring Illinois municipalities from imposing ticket quotas on local police departments.
Will lawmakers push per-mile driving tax in Illinois?
Will lawmakers push per-mile driving tax in Illinois?
Illinoisans already get hosed at the pump, but politicians are looking for new ways to soak drivers.
Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation
Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation
A ballot question asking voters whether to eliminate Capital Township could bring savings to Springfield taxpayers – but that would just be one of many steps worth taking to lower Springfield’s high property taxes.
IRS moves to block Illinois lawmakers’ tax credit workaround scheme
IRS moves to block Illinois lawmakers’ tax credit workaround scheme
New IRS rules make clear that lowering the actual tax burden, not complicated workarounds, is the correct way to respond to tighter federal restrictions on SALT deductions.
Rauner vetoes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers statewide
Rauner vetoes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers statewide
Dictating teachers’ salaries from Springfield would impose a costly mandate on local school districts and expose struggling homeowners across the state to property tax hikes.
Sherry Arnold
Sherry Arnold
“I first came here in 1989. I moved for four years out to North Carolina and then came back. I was excited about moving back because my grandbaby was being born. “I thought I’d just retire here. Then all the taxes came. “We’re going to move out by the spring. “My land taxes doubled from...
State of Illinois confirms new budget is out of balance by $1.2B
State of Illinois confirms new budget is out of balance by $1.2B
Despite claims from some state lawmakers that the fiscal year 2019 budget is balanced, official reports to bond buyers admit a deficit of more than $1 billion.
Taxpayer victory: Rauner signs bill axing ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials
Taxpayer victory: Rauner signs bill axing ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials
The Government Severance Pay Act places a cap on – and attaches strings to – golden parachute severance payouts for outgoing government employees.
St. Clair County property taxes nearly doubled over last 20 years
St. Clair County property taxes nearly doubled over last 20 years
Property taxpayers in St. Clair County have seen home values swamped by property taxes over the past 20 years.
Lawsuit seeks to end Burke’s ‘political army’ in Chicago workers’ comp system
Lawsuit seeks to end Burke’s ‘political army’ in Chicago workers’ comp system
Chicago’s longest-serving alderman runs the city’s workers’ comp program without any outside scrutiny. But a new lawsuit aims to change that.
53,000 Cook County homeowners to receive $19.5M in property tax refunds
53,000 Cook County homeowners to receive $19.5M in property tax refunds
Millions in property tax refunds will go out to Cook County homeowners as early as Aug. 15.
Michael Serrano
Michael Serrano
“I head over to Indiana at least three times a month to get groceries, cigarettes, gas, anything that is taxed less. Part of it is that I’m trying to watch out for my pocketbook, the other part is to just not give any more of my tax dollars to Illinois. “Politicians only care about themselves....
Jamie Grubich
Jamie Grubich
“I grew up here. I came back here after college and I was in the military and I was with a unit in Rockford. I was a [National] Guard and reserve member for 13 years. “It makes me sad to think there’s a possibility that I might not want to live here. “I liked having...
Why your property tax bill is so high, and how to fix it
Why your property tax bill is so high, and how to fix it
Less than 50 cents of every additional property tax dollar over the last 20 years went to pay for services that raise home values. Instead, the primary driver of the rise in property taxes was pension costs.