Lawmakers file bills barring state lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers
Lawmakers file bills barring state lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers
A number of state and local lawmakers in Illinois practice property tax appeals litigation. But a pair of bills recently filed in the General Assembly would end their ability to benefit at the expense of taxpayers.
By Vincent Caruso
DuPage County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?
DuPage County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?
DuPage County billed property tax payers $2.74 billion for 2016; this meant owners of a median-valued home in Naperville worth $388,000 had a $9,000 property tax bill.
By Amy Korte
House bill would require referendum before local tax hikes
House bill would require referendum before local tax hikes
A new bill introduced in the General Assembly would prohibit local lawmakers from passing tax hikes without voters' permission.
By Vincent Caruso
Jackson County residents see state spending grow far faster than local incomes
Jackson County residents see state spending grow far faster than local incomes
Growth in state spending per capita outpaced per capita personal income growth by nearly 40 percent in Jackson County.
By Austin Berg
Chicago vehicle sticker price increase starts today
Chicago vehicle sticker price increase starts today
The Office of the City Clerk announced that the change in prices for annual vehicle stickers would follow Consumer Price Index changes.
By Vincent Caruso
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address
Delivered on Jan. 31, 2018.
By illinoispolicy
Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Record-breaking borrowing to fund Illinois' even more massive pension debt is no real solution to the state's pension problem.
By Joe Tabor
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
Play BINGO! with us during Gov. Rauner's State of the State address at noon on Jan. 31! Win free stuff!
By illinoispolicy
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
The bill would cut off Illinois’ new tax credit scholarship program if the Illinois State Board of Education determined public school funding levels were inadequate.
By Brendan Bakala
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
State spending grew 25 percent faster than Illinoisans' personal income from 2005-2015.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
Nearly 4 in 10 of those eligible for refunds made a claim for an average refund check of $36.62.
By Brendan Bakala
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
Business owners in one Illinois community are using the law to fight back against high property tax bills. Their lawsuit claimed property taxes spiked on commercial properties from 2015 to 2016, but only in their town.
By Amanda McDonald
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sponsoring a trampoline court regulation bill that is identical to the one she sponsored in 2017.
By Brendan Bakala