Geneva teachers union files intent to strike, but local watchdogs aim to keep union demands in check
Geneva teachers union files intent to strike, but local watchdogs aim to keep union demands in check
Like many school systems across the state, Geneva Community Unit School District 304 is likely to endure a teacher strike, but the result from the Geneva strike could be very different thanks to a team of about 20 citizen watchdogs who are keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line. The group, known as Geneva...
By Paul Kersey
Supply without demand: public school hires increase while enrollment drops
Supply without demand: public school hires increase while enrollment drops
There are too many people working in America’s schools. From 1950 to 2009, the amount of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees grew 386 percent while the amount of public school students only grew by 96 percent, according to a recently released report from the Friedman Foundation for Educational Excellence. Looking even closer at the data reveals...
O’Hare renovations: 30 times more expensive than Illinois’ high-speed rail plans
O’Hare renovations: 30 times more expensive than Illinois’ high-speed rail plans
With a track length of nearly 3.1 miles, taxpayers are looking at footing a cost of almost $110 million per mile.
By Brian Costin
Unused sick days add big payout for retired public school teachers
Unused sick days add big payout for retired public school teachers
For most Illinoisans, paid sick days count on a use it or lose it basis. But that
Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment on proposed Cook County taxes
Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment on proposed Cook County taxes
FY2013 budget includes cigarette tax hike, guns and ammo taxes and more taxes on businesses
TRS earned less than 1 percent on its investments last year
TRS earned less than 1 percent on its investments last year
On Thursday, the Teachers’ Retirement System announced its annual investment returns for fiscal year 2012. You may recall that it was predicting 8.5 percent returns. So what kind of returns did it actually get? A meager 0.76 percent. For comparison, the S&P 500 grew7.39 percent during fiscal year 2012, while the Dow Jones Industrial average grew 7.92 percent and...
By Jonathan Ingram
Preckwinkle’s proposed $1 per-pack cigarette tax hike doesn’t add up
Preckwinkle’s proposed $1 per-pack cigarette tax hike doesn’t add up
Since 2002, cigarette taxes increased 105 times across the country. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants to make it 106. To help fill Cook County’s $267.5 million budget shortfall, Preckwinkle has proposed increasing the per-pack tax on cigarettes by $1. The tax hike is only expected to bring in about $25 million in new revenue. Preckwinkle’s new money...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Cook County’s attempt to sin tax its way out of $267.5 million budget shortfall
Cook County’s attempt to sin tax its way out of $267.5 million budget shortfall
Cook County faces a projected $267.5 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2013. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has a solution: Fill the gap with higher taxes on cigarettes, guns, ammo, gambling and businesses. “We have structural problems that demand structural solutions” Preckwinkle said. The problems are structural, but Preckwinkle’s solutions are not. Tinkering with the tax...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Despite Evergreen Park union resistance, evaluations included in ratified contract
Despite Evergreen Park union resistance, evaluations included in ratified contract
A couple of weeks ago I noted that a performance incentive program for teachers and staff was one of the bones of contention in the Evergreen Park teacher strike. These proposed incentives were based on district-wide performance on the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) exam, which measures students’ academic growth. The bonuses were tied to...
By Paul Kersey
Red light camera revenues seduce public officials
Red light camera revenues seduce public officials
Since the city of Chicago began Illinois
Even before record 67 percent tax hike, Illinois has 11th-highest tax burden nationwide
Even before record 67 percent tax hike, Illinois has 11th-highest tax burden nationwide
The Tax Foundation has reaffirmed Illinois’ status as a high-tax state in its newly released 2012 Annual State-Local Tax Burden Ranking. Based on the Census Bureau’s 2010 data, the report found that Illinois’ overall tax burden per resident is the 11th highest in the nation. Some highlights from the report include: At 10.2 percent, Illinois has...
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
State workers break the rules, get a paid vacation
State workers break the rules, get a paid vacation
Overall, paid leave cost the state