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Crain's Chicago Business: What the Supreme Court's new majority means for Illinois' fiscal mess
With a new majority set to take control of the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s time to look forward and consider how it may ultimately resolve Illinois’ long-running fiscal crisis. As it did with its recent landmark ruling on public-sector unions, the court could have the deciding say on a number of state issues.
First, suppose Illinois amended its constitution to delete or soften its pension-protection clause and proceeded to cut pension benefits. Public unions would sue in federal court, they’ve said, based on violation of the Contracts Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Champaign News-Gazette: Report: Public schools pay presidents a pretty penny
A dozen public university presidents have total compensation packages exceeding $1 million, reflecting continued growth in executive compensation at the nation’s colleges, a new report says.
The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual survey of executive compensation at public institutions found that the average pay in 2016-17 was nearly $560,000, up 5 percent from the previous fiscal year.
State Journal-Register: New Illinois program to offer retirement savings plan
A new state program will automatically deduct money from the paychecks of about 1.2 million Illinois residents for retirement savings.
The move could reduce the use of food stamps, Medicaid and other publicly funded social programs, said Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Illinois Secure Choice is being phased in more than three years after becoming law, The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported.
Belleville News-Democrat: Right here is the No. 1 town in the nation — for poverty
We sure enjoy trumpeting all those “No. 1 in the nation” accolades for the local art festival, but there’s another top ranking for a neighboring community: No. 1 in the nation for poverty.
And this was the second year in a row.
Centreville, IL, tops the list as ranked by 24/7 Wall St., a partner of USA Today, using the annual estimates made by the U.S. Census Bureau. The ranking was because Centreville had four stats that are worthy of despair.
Northwest Herald: Fox River Grove pushes downtown development; Huntley has used similar strategy
In an attempt to make over Fox River Grove’s downtown area, village officials have their sights set on 10 properties they’d like to acquire and use to pitch to developers.
Using money from the village’s TIF district or the general capital fund, village officials hope buying land in the downtown area will pave the way for developers, Fox River Grove Village Administrator Derek Soderholm said.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria airport cites solid numbers but focuses on new challenges
A recent growth report is good news for the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, but not enough reason to relax about the future, says airport director Gene Olson.
Among U.S. airports with 5,000 to 25,000 weekly departing seats, Peoria’s ranks third in seating capacity growth since 2016. The growth rate was 28.7 percent, Bloomberg News reported in late May. Ranking second was the Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina, with 33.2 percent, and first was the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport in Florida, with 33.7 percent.