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Illinois now has the second-highest property taxes in the nation

By Dennis Rodkin With all the snow this week and the brutal cold forecast for Chicago next week, it’s no wonder so many of us are dreaming of Hawaii right about now. But if you own your home, those daydreams may not only be weather-related: in Hawaii, homeowners are taxed at about one-eighth the rate...

Champaign’s website flunks audit for ‘online transparency’

by Patrick Wade The city is failing when it comes to providing information on its website, a conservative research institute says. The Illinois Policy Institute this week released its annual “online transparency audit,” which evaluates towns and cities’ websites and grades them based on how well they provide public information like officials’ contact information, budgets,...

City of Peoria significantly increases online transparency score

City improves online transparency grade from a D to an A  Transparency in government is one of the most effective and easiest ways to prevent corruption and enable active citizen participation in government. A recent analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute found that the city of Peoria has improved its online transparency score three grade...

IL Policy Institute: City of Champaign fails online transparency audit

With the constant advancements of the digital age, keeping citizens informed about their local and state government’s actions has never been easier. However, recent analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute found that Champaign, along with 11 other city governments failed an online audit for government transparency. This analysis takes a close look at how much...

IL Policy Institute: City of Decatur fails online transparency audit

With the constant advancements of the digital age, keeping citizens informed about their local and state government’s actions has never been easier. However, recent analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute found that Decatur, along with 11 other city governments failed an online audit for government transparency. This analysis takes a close look at how much...

IL Policy Institute: City of Rockford fails online transparency audit

With the constant advancements of the digital age, keeping citizens informed about their local and state government’s actions has never been easier. However, recent analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute found that Rockford, along with 11 other city governments failed an online audit for government transparency. This analysis takes a close look at how much...

El gobierno del condado de Cook recibe bajo puntaje en la auditoría sobre la transparencia del gobierno en internet del Illinois Policy Institute

Una reciente auditoría de las páginas web públicas del estado de Illinois halló que el condado de Cook tiene bajísimos niveles de transparencia pública en internet. De hecho, el condado de Cook obtuvo solamente 64.9 puntos de un total de 100 puntos posibles en dicha auditoría sobre la transparencia del gobierno en internet. Estos datos...

Wall Street has faint praise for Illinois’ pension fix

by David Nicklaus Illinois’ new pension law quickly found a fan club among Wall Street’s credit-rating agencies. Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings all issued statements praising the pension overhaul that Gov. Pat Quinn signed Dec. 5. It’s their first unanimously positive pronouncement in years about Illinois, and the accolades must have been music to...