State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
State senators stave off spending reform, test tax hikes instead
Illinois’ combined state and average local sales tax rate is the highest in the Midwest.
84,000 Illinoisans moved to states with no income tax from 2011-2014
84,000 Illinoisans moved to states with no income tax from 2011-2014
The Land of Lincoln lost almost 84,000 residents and over $6.5 billion in taxable income to the seven states without an income tax while Illinois’ 2011 income tax hike was in effect.
Forgotten Illinois: Newton and the reality of America’s heartland
Forgotten Illinois: Newton and the reality of America’s heartland
Like much of the rust belt, Newton, Ill. is facing difficult economic challenges. But the community continuously sticks together.
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax
Despite taxing both sales and income, Illinois has higher property taxes than every single state that does not charge an income tax.
Tax Hike Whack-a-Mole
Tax Hike Whack-a-Mole
Indiana personal income has grown twice as fast as Illinois’ over recession era
Indiana personal income has grown twice as fast as Illinois’ over recession era
Hoosier homeowners keep more of their wages as a result of a statewide property tax cap and income tax cuts.
What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers
What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers
What’s making college unaffordable for Illinois students isn’t budget gridlock, it’s soaring administrative costs in higher education.
Employers in DuPage and Cook counties reported 429 layoffs in January
Employers in DuPage and Cook counties reported 429 layoffs in January
Numbers from the January 2017 Illinois WARN report show most of the mass layoffs were in the service industry.
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
The Civic Federation’s budget plan repeats old mistakes with multibillion-dollar tax hikes and no serious, structural reform.
Education finance solutions
Education finance solutions
Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle grow more and more powerful as the size of state and local government increases.
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
Lawmakers need to look at the state’s major spending drivers instead of increasing taxes, which will continue to drive more people out of the state.
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
Despite the fact that the average AFSCME worker makes over $100,000 a year in total compensation, the union has made health care, salary and benefit demands that are out of line with what Illinois taxpayers can afford and would aggravate the state’s financial crisis.
Madigan’s millions: How the speaker sells his sway
Madigan’s millions: How the speaker sells his sway
The speaker’s law firm makes millions in the clout-heavy game of Cook County property tax appeals.