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Crain's Chicago Business: Hey, Illinois elected officials: Pay attention to this student outmigration
In a state with a network of four-year public universities crowned by one of the best in the world—the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—the Land of Lincoln should be able to claim bragging rights alongside states like Virginia, California, New York and even Michigan and Iowa as a place whose higher education system is the envy of everyone.
Instead, Illinois stands on the cusp of making some draconian choices. The Civic Federation, a reliably straight-thinking government watchdog group, in February called on Springfield to create a bipartisan commission to rationalize the state’s higher education system. The federation noted that six of the state’s 12 university campuses have posted enrollment drops since 2008, with only two up since 2015: The U of I campuses in Urbana and Chicago. With the population of high school students also dropping, the federation says, “The commission should consider the elimination of duplicative higher education programs, reallocation of resources across programs and campuses and the closure or consolidation of campuses.” Particularly weak have been Northeastern, Southern, Western and Eastern Illinois universities and Chicago State University. As a first step, the federation adds, the state should concentrate management of the schools under fewer boards. Why, for instance, does the University of Illinois System have its own board of trustees, while Illinois State University has one of its own, as do Northern Illinois University and all the rest?
Belleville News-Democrat: You're very upset with Illinois government, but does Illinois government really care?
To no one’s surprise, a new poll shows Illinois voters are very upset with their state government and the direction it is taking. The only thing that raised an eyebrow was that they found 90 people in their sample of 1,001 who thought Illinois was heading in the right direction.
You’ve got to wonder who are those 90 folks? Recent arrivals? Male campaign workers for Mike Madigan? Baggage handlers at MidAmerica Airport? Bob Romanik’s tailor?
Chicago Tribune: Questions about spending of taxpayer money fuel movement to abolish township government
Shortly after taking office last year, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser said he received an anonymous package containing old credit card bills that were expensed to the township road department before he took it over.
Among them were numerous purchases of clothing and accessories from retailers like Lands’ End and prAna. There were bills for two cashmere and cardigan sweaters and a wool coat for $349. There was a receipt for a Levenger purse for $329, according to a lawsuit Gasser filed challenging the expenses.
Daily Herald: Bartlett mulls 1-percent sales tax, dropping utility tax
Bartlett officials are wrestling with whether a combination of a new 1-percent home rule sales tax and eliminating the village’s utility taxes could be the way out of the reserve spending of recent years — while also overcoming revenue cuts from the state.
The moves would bring a net increase of about $1 million to village coffers, officials say. They also would keeps Bartlett businesses competitive since neighboring communities’ sales taxes are at or above the same level, Village Administrator Paula Schumacher said.
State Journal-Register: City offers faster payment in panhandling case in exchange for dropping other case
Two Chicago civil rights lawyers granted about $333,000 in attorney’s fees as part of a panhandlers’ rights case want the city of Springfield to quickly cough up the money it owes them.
In a request to the judge to enforce payment, the attorneys alleged the city said it would pay them promptly if they dropped a different case they were pursuing against the city.