Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Belleville News-Democrat: Illinois property taxes rise six times faster than income during recession
Two recent studies said property taxes weren’t really so bad in Illinois.
Bet your experience is very different.
Now another study using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey is telling us that, yes, property taxes are high here — but that’s not the worst part.
Between 2008 and 2015 during the Great Recession, property taxes grew six times faster than household incomes in Illinois, according to research by Orphe Divounguy, the Illinois Policy Institute’s chief economist.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois' higher education leaders at odds over proposed budget
Seeking state money for higher education in Illinois used to be somewhat routine.
Colleges, universities and education agencies sent wish lists to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, whose members crunched the numbers and presented them to state legislators. Lawmakers, in turn, provided the funds — usually a sizable chunk of income for the state’s public institutions.
State Journal-Register: How can Illinois solve its teacher shortage?
As a shortage of teachers continues to plague Illinois, especially in central and southern counties, suggestions are being made to address the problem.
Both the Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents and National Governors Association have released reports with recommendations for Illinois lawmakers and policy makers to consider.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Town also questions EDC spending
The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council has work to do to win back the trust of local government officials.
A few days after the McLean County Board’s executive committee approved a document requesting more transparency in exchange for the nearly $100,000 it gives EDC annually, the town of Normal’s staff is asking the Normal City Council to do the same — and deny part of a new request for funding.
State Journal-Register: $21.7M student union officially opens at UIS
As hundreds of people gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday at University of Illinois Springfield’s new student union, Dominic Chiappano and his friends parked themselves in front of a large, flat-screen television on the first floor to watch the NFL playoffs.
Before the new 52,028-square-foot building opened, the UIS senior said, there wasn’t a place on campus he and his friends wanted to hang out at. That changed Sunday.