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Champaign News-Gazette: Wrong track? No, Illinois has jumped the track
If the natives are restless, there’s a good reason why.
Scratch that — the natives are definitely restless.
A couple weeks ago, a public opinion poll conducted by NPR Illinois and the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois-Springfield revealed that the people of Illinois are, to put it mildly, disillusioned with their state government.
Champaign News-Gazette: Is the 'B' word in Illinois' future?
Political happy talk in Illinois is just that — talk.
As the Nov. 6 election approaches, Illinois voters are hearing two types of political rhetoric from many of those seeking legislative or executive offices.
For starters, there’s the usual vilification of the opposition. Second, there’s the happy talk about what the candidates want to do for the people of Illinois.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Mayor Emanuel Prepares to Release His Final City Budget
As more than a dozen folks line up to succeed him, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is set to release his final city budget before leaving office. He’s promising no major tax or fee increases, but there are significant new costs.
How will they be paid for?
Daily Herald: District 41 teachers rally behind superintendent
Glen Ellyn District 41 teachers and parents staged a rally Monday night to push for a contract extension for Superintendent Paul Gordon and to protest the school board’s public silence on the fate of their top administrator.
More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside district offices before a school board meeting in a show of support for Gordon, who has less than a year remaining on his contract. Leaders of the Glen Ellyn teachers union organized the hourlong rally along with parents and the Illinois Education Association.
Rockford Register-Star: Costco coming to Loves Park after city OKs tax breaks
Aldermen unanimously approved more than $11 million worth of sales tax rebates Monday so a Costco store and additional retail business can be built along the city’s East Riverside Boulevard corridor.
Costco is expected to open by July 1.
Rockford Register-Star: Rockford proposes balanced budget, flat tax levy
Mayor Tom McNamara’s administration on Monday proposed a balanced $156.8 million general fund budget for next year that would keep the city’s property tax levy flat.
Under the proposal, Rockford would hold the line on property taxes, foregoing $1.5 million in property taxes it could collect if it captured taxes to the fullest potential under property tax cap law, Finance Director Carrie Hagerty said.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria City Council may cut own benefits to help balance city’s budget
Heading into a special policy session Tuesday on the city’s mounting budget problems, at least one city councilman is suggesting slashing council benefits.
At Large Councilman Sid Ruckriegel, who has raised the issue before, will offer a resolution Tuesday that would exclude council members from participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and the city’s health plan while also reducing mileage compensation.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Gleason: Merging water, public works departments to save $250K, boost efficiency
Merging Bloomington’s public works and water departments likely will save the city more than $250,000 annually but not trigger any layoffs, City Manager Tim Gleason told the City Council on Monday.
Public Works Director Jim Karch will oversee the newly merged department under the reorganization anticipated to increase efficiency and improve customer service, said Gleason.
Belleville News-Gazette: Here’s what salaries in 5 metro-east townships cost taxpayers in 2017
Supervisors of five townships in the metro-east earned an average annual salary of $48,617 in 2017, according to records recently added to the Belleville News-Democrat’s Public Pay Database.
Supervisors of those townships, some of the largest by population in the metro-east, earned the following annual wages.