Get the latest news from around Illinois.
State Journal-Register: Rauner administration to appeal AFSCME step pay ruling
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration will fight an appellate court ruling that it violated state law when it stopped awarding step increases in 2015 to eligible members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
AFSCME said Rauner’s administration has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to take up the appeal. AFSCME said it will argue against the state’s high court taking up the case.
Daily Herald: Taxpayers cover costs of state agencies to exhibit at conference
Taxpayers who covered the costs of sending local officials to a three-day Illinois Municipal League conference also paid to send public agencies to exhibit there.
Six state agencies and the Pace suburban bus system spent nearly $10,000 to operate promotional exhibition booths at the lobbying group’s annual conference in downtown Chicago in September.
Chicago Tribune: 10 years after red light cameras came to suburbs, state hasn't assessed whether they've improved safety
Since red light cameras were introduced in Chicago’s suburbs a decade ago, state and local officials have routinely ignored requirements to analyze the safety impact at the intersections where cameras were placed, a Tribune investigation has found.
The result: The state has not ordered a single camera removed for ineffectiveness as suburbs have collected millions of dollars in fines — sometimes in places where crashes increased after cameras were turned on.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Cook County Assessor Berrios Faces More Heat
More scrutiny for embattled Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios.
A government watchdog group is calling for oversight of Berrios and the way his office assesses property values. This comes as Berrios faces a lawsuit and condemnation by many public officials in his own party after recent investigations have revealed problems with how properties are assessed.
Northwest Herald: Woodstock City Council approves sales tax rebate program for Woodstock Lumber
Woodstock City Council members granted a sales tax rebate Tuesday to Woodstock Lumber with an anticipated value of a little more than $100,000.
The City Council voted to implement a home rule sales tax in September, which will go into effect Jan. 1. The hike raises the Woodstock sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent. The owners of Woodstock Lumber are concerned that the increased tax will have a serious effect on their business and drive customers to communities with lower rates.
Daily Herald: Des Plaines hopes to force sale of shuttered downtown theater
Des Plaines will pursue eminent domain proceedings to forcibly acquire the 92-year-old Des Plaines Theatre, after the theater’s owner says he rejected the city’s “low ball” offer to buy it.
Both sides say they were negotiating in good faith over the last few months in hopes of reaching a fair price for the Art Deco-style building at 1476 Miner St.
Daily Herald: Dist. 220 to reveal costs for possible projects next month
Cost projections are to be unveiled next month for potential building projects at Barrington Area Unit District 220.
It’ll be another step in the process for Blueprint 220, the district’s long-term strategy on school renovations to meet future education needs, in part through flexible spaces and better technology.
Daily Herald: Aurora Election Commission could be on chopping block in March vote
Aurora voters may get to decide in March to disband the Aurora Election Commission and turn its duties over to the clerks of Kane, Will and Kendall counties.
A group of residents, including Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen, submitted petitions Dec. 15 to Kane County Circuit Court Judge David Akemann.
Daily Herald: Kane County considers increasing building, permit fees
Construction costs in Kane County will increase as county board members signaled Tuesday they would raise building permit fees to help bring in new revenue that doesn’t come from taxes.
The county last raised its building and other permit fees in 2004 when new construction and property values were on a steady uptick. Recent economic indicators show new construction should rise again in 2018, though not to the levels seen before the housing bubble.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria City Council to review Pere Marquette refinancing proposal
A restructuring plan for the financially ailing Marriott Pere Marquette hotel complex in Downtown Peoria probably will be made public in a few weeks.
The City Council is to review the refinancing hotel developer Gary Matthews is proposing, City Manager Patrick Urich said Tuesday. Municipal-backed bonds helped pay for the hotel project, which was completed in 2013.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Council OKs loan for Miller Park Zoo work
The Bloomington Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department will begin developing plans for a new concession stand, more parking and a new roof for the Miller Park Zoo entrance building.
The City Council voted unanimously on Monday to allow the city to lend the Miller Park Zoo $900,000 to make the improvements, but no money has been allotted.
Belleville News-Democrat: Belleville takes action that could have you seeing a property tax increase next year
Belleville aldermen voted Monday to ask for a 12 percent increase in the city’s property levy, which is the amount of property tax funding the city wants for the next fiscal year.
Most of the property tax revenue will be used to support the pension funds for the city’s police officers and firefighters. Other sources of revenue such as sales tax, income tax and utility tax revenue are used to fund most of the city’s day-to-day expenses of running the city.