Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the country, many of which are duplicative and overlapping. In Belleville, where the majority of the city’s school districts cover fewer students than the state average, consolidation efforts could boost efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars.
Residents are seeing property tax dollars flow toward lobbying for policies that increase homeowners’ property tax bills.
Lawmakers voted to approve the 1,245-page budget less than 24 hours after it was revealed to the public.
A majority of House lawmakers sided with the speaker over tapped-out taxpayers.
State senators voted to approve the 1,245-page budget just hours after it was made public.
More than half of local school district administrators earn more than $100,000, and those incomes will get a boost after a recent board decision.
Many school district employees’ earnings are more than double that of the typical Belleville household.
The excessive severance package comes as a bill curbing golden parachutes sits in the Illinois House of Representatives.
With one proposal to pay off Illinois’ pension debt asking the typical homeowner to pay more than $1,900 in additional property taxes for the next 30 years, the stakes for pension reform have never been clearer.
Taxpayers in the city of Alton, which has identical borders to that of Alton Township, could see savings through consolidation.
Springfield is struggling to juggle its priorities, with state lawmakers pressing up against time to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.
Local government leaders across Illinois are asking their state lawmakers to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.
Inaccuracy and unfairness in the property tax assessment process mean some homeowners, especially those in poorer areas, pay a disproportionate share of the overall tax burden.
Residents of St. Clair and Madison Counties will soon see some of the nation’s most punishing property tax bills.