by Kristina Rasmussen Governor Quinn claims to make $1.4 billion in spending reductions for fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2010. Why is Governor Quinn comparing his proposed spending reductions to last year’s spending levels instead of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2011? It makes his cuts look bigger. Think about it. Last year’s spending was artificially...
by Collin Hitt In the wake of a recent study showing strong results for a Washington D.C. voucher program, the Trib is again urging Illinois lawmakers to support a school voucher bill that would provide students in Chicago’s worst and most overcrowded elementary schools with the choice of attending a city private school instead: No, we haven’t...
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Yesterday, Quinn unveiled and signed the Illinois state budget for fiscal year 2011 in which he claims to cut $1.4 billion when compared to the FY2010 budget. He outlined only $509 million in specific appropriation cuts, with the remaining $891 million categorized under vague “emergency budget act reserves.” But let’s focus on this year’s...
by Kristina Rasmussen Even though the state budget is billions of dollars out of whack, many state government employees are set to receive a pay raise today. From the Pantagraph: SPRINGFIELD — Despite a state budget that is billions of dollars out of whack, more than 46,000 state workers will see bigger paychecks on Thursday. Judges, prison...
by Will Compernolle In fiscal year 2007, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity gave a $25,000 grant (#07-203098) to the Chicago Park District “for renovations to the historic spray pool at Athletic Field Parklocated at 3546 West Addison in Chicago.” The DCEO’s grant tracker explains the grant is part of a larger grant program “for specific...
by Brian Costin In a bit of good news the arrival of July 1st, 2010 marked a drop in the Cook County sales tax rate. The Cook County portion of the sales tax (1.75%) dropped ½ a percentage point to 1.25%. This means for a $100 purchase of goods the average consumer will save 50 cents. Unfortunately, Chicago...
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson The Associated Press reports that the federal government’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) “wasted more than $100 million paying the electric bills of thousands of applicants who were dead, in prison or living in million-dollar mansions.” LIHEAP is designed to help low-income families pay their electric bills, but there was “little oversight of...
by Will Compernolle Artist Tony Tasset’s three-stories-tall eyeball at State and Van Buren in Chicago, simply titled “EYE,” has gotten mixed reviews from bystanders waiting for its official unveiling on July 7th. But almost more noteworthy than a giant eyeball in the middle of the city is the fact that, according to CNN, EYE cost taxpayers...
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s new budget “fix” indicates he’s living in a fiscal fairy tale. His spending adjustment recommendations do not come remotely close to balancing the budget, and he has failed to offer clean break from the state’s perpetual fiscal mismanagement. Governor Quinn claims to make $1.4 billion in spending reductions for fiscal year...
y Amanda Griffin-Johnson Since 2000, Chicago’s city budget has increased by 11.6%, when adjusted for inflation. So what are reasons for the budget growth? According to the most recent estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago’s population only increased by 1% between 2000 and 2008. Reasons for budget increases mentioned in the city press release for the 2010 budget...
by Kate Piercy Questions are surrounding the nearly half a million dollar salary of Bellwood’s Roy McCampbell, who says “he did the work of 10 people for Bellwood — comptroller, administrator, public safety CEO, finance director, budget director, human resources director, mayoral assistant, corporation counsel, property commission director and development corporation officer,” and thinks Bellwood...
by Kate Piercy Because of “improper spending and oversight of TIFs,” Inspector General Joe Ferguson has concluded the City of Chicago lost Chicago taxpayers “$1.2 million in funds generated by the now-defunct Central Loop tax-increment-financing district — and spent $329,000 for ineligible art work,” according to a Sun-Times report. Ferguson audited of “more than four years worth...
by Kate Piercy According to the State Journal-Register, five key employees of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have combined to spend more than $300,000 on travel since fiscal year 2005. In addition, the agency has spent $1.2 million to $1.32 million on travel overall in each of those years. Apparently, a good portion of...
by Brian Costin Liberty Leader John Yackley has paid a large role in forming a new taxpayer watchdog organization called Cook County Coalition for Tax Relief. The Coalition is for Cook County business and residents alike, but emphasizes the effects of the Cook County property tax code and the unequal burden it places on businesses. The purpose...