Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Close some state universities? Consider it, watchdog says
Illinois needs to seriously consider permanently closing some of its state colleges and universities. And it needs to follow the lead of neighboring Wisconsin and start taxing cable TV, tickets to sporting and entertainment events and 12 other services.
So says the Civic Federation in its annual—and toughened-up—road map on how the state could balance its budget and pay off all outstanding bills by 2023 if it had the political will.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel wants carjacking crackdown bill from Springfield following surge
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a group of state lawmakers are pushing new legislation in Springfield aimed at cracking down on the surge of carjackings in Chicago by closing a loophole that police and city officials say has led many of the vehicle thefts to result in only misdemeanor charges.
The Emanuel administration and sponsoring legislators are quick to point out they are not seeking tougher sentencing — an omission that could make the new law an easier sell at the Capitol — but instead pursuing a way to ensure that penalties already on the books are better enforced.
Chicago Sun-Times: Standard & Poor’s affirms Chicago’s BBB+bond rating, citing warning flags
So much for high hopes that a double-upgrade in Chicago’s general obligation bond rating by a small Wall Street rating agency would trigger similar increases by the bigger players, reducing borrowing costs.
The best Standard & Poor’s could do Friday is reaffirm Chicago’s BBB+ general obligation bond rating and raise the rating on the city’s 1997 G.O. “limited tax building acquisition certificates”– from BBB+ to BBB. The certificates are “payable from legally available funds and are not secured by a debt service levy,” the report states.
Northwest Herald: Fired political insider Ryan Provenzano keeps job as Algonquin Township's deputy highway commissioner
Ryan Provenzano, a political insider fired from his role as the Algonquin Township supervisor’s chief of staff in January, still is employed as deputy highway commissioner in the Algonquin Township Road District.
At the time of his firing, it was unclear if Ryan Provenzano, who at one time earned more than $32 an hour in both offices, would keep his job as deputy highway commissioner – but a recent Facebook post from Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser and a phone call to Township Supervisor Charles Lutzow confirmed that.
Daily Herald: District 15, support workers have tentative deal
Palatine Township Elementary District 15 has reached a tentative contract agreement with support employees who went on strike and returned to work without a deal in October.
District 15 spokeswoman Morgan Delack said the tentative deal was reached Thursday with the Educational Support Personnel Association union. The district union local is affiliated with the Illinois Education Association.
Daily Herald: District 25 approves new contract with maintenance workers
Facilities and maintenance workers in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 will get raises averaging 2 percent to 3 percent over the course of a new five-year contract approved Thursday.
The agreement between the school board and Service Employees International Union Local 73 eliminates the current salary schedule’s five to eight steps for new hires beginning July 1, instead setting salary ranges that give management more flexibility on pay. Employees off the schedule will get 2 percent raises ever year, while those currently on it will get 3 percent increases. Part-timers will get 2 percent. The agreement, which runs through June 2023, also changed language that overtime may be required.
Rockford Register-Star: South Beloit voters to consider $4.9M library referendum
City voters will consider a property tax referendum on March 20 that, if approved, would add a $4.9 million public library to part of the Nature at the Confluence campus off Dickop Street near Blackhawk Boulevard.
The owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $8.05 worth of property taxes annually if the referendum is approved. The new building would be triple the size of the existing library at 630 Blackhawk Blvd.