New data: Illinois homeowners pay country’s highest property taxes
New data: Illinois homeowners pay country’s highest property taxes
The state again had the highest residential property tax rate in the U.S. in 2024, tied with New Jersey.
Lawmakers pass bill creating apprenticeships for beauty professions
Lawmakers pass bill creating apprenticeships for beauty professions
Under the measure, aspiring barbers, cosmetologists and others would have a path to a license that doesn’t require expensive schooling.
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs
Many school districts cover teachers’ required pension contribution of 9% of their salary — putting that burden on taxpayers.
Delayed property tax bills cost Chicago Public Schools $34 million
Delayed property tax bills cost Chicago Public Schools $34 million
Chicago Public Schools borrowed over $1.8 billion amid a delay in last year’s Cook County bills, adding interest costs and exposing the fragility of the district’s finances.
Vallas: Chicago should sue to overturn the parking meter deal
Vallas: Chicago should sue to overturn the parking meter deal
The city should aim to scrap or restructure the 2008 contract by arguing that it’s “manifestly against public policy.”
The purpose of teachers unions
The purpose of teachers unions
Educators defeat Chicago Teachers Union’s proposed dues hike
Educators defeat Chicago Teachers Union’s proposed dues hike
The union wanted to raise dues as much as $800 a year to pay for its leaders’ political activities.
Bad revenue forecasts drive reckless state spending
Bad revenue forecasts drive reckless state spending
Lawmakers too often decide what to spend without an accurate picture of what will come in.
Pritzker: Lifeguard not on duty
Pritzker: Lifeguard not on duty
Illinois drivers pay nation’s second-highest gas taxes ahead of Memorial Day
Illinois drivers pay nation’s second-highest gas taxes ahead of Memorial Day
Gas prices in Illinois are up 48% from last Memorial Day. Here’s what to know about the state’s gas tax.
Vallas: The Chicago City Council must empower itself for better budget oversight
Vallas: The Chicago City Council must empower itself for better budget oversight
Going into this budget cycle, there should be an added urgency for the City Council to build its capacity to play a co-equal role in the budget process and push to adopt more reforms and efficiencies to control spending.
2 ways to improve Illinois spending decisions
2 ways to improve Illinois spending decisions
Lawmakers make costly decisions without understanding the economic impact.
A Bears deal shouldn’t leave property taxpayers on the sidelines
A Bears deal shouldn’t leave property taxpayers on the sidelines
Any deal linked to a stadium should benefit everyone.
Illinoisans can read a budget before it passes for the first time in at least 10 years
Illinoisans can read a budget before it passes for the first time in at least 10 years
Bucking the practice of recent years, lawmakers introduced the proposed budget more than three weeks before the May 31 end of the session.