Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Cook County Eats $175K

Cook County Eats $175K

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson It looks like Cook County was counting its eggs before they hatched. The county recently found out seven contracts totaling nearly $175,000 would not be reimbursed by grants from the federal government. The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Now a strapped Cook County government is left with the final tab for seven contracts — five...

New Searchable Database for Cook County Lobbyists

New Searchable Database for Cook County Lobbyists

by Will Compernolle Cook County will now provide a searchable online database regarding lobbyists’ activities, according to the Daily Herald. The site, at cookcountyclerk.com, lists all 188 registered lobbyists in the county, what they’re lobbying about, who they’re contacting, and what they’re being paid. Cook County Clerk David Orr said the site makes the lobbying registration process...

Registered Nurses Paid More Than $68K

Registered Nurses Paid More Than $68K

by Will Compernolle The State of Illinois hired 910 registered nurses in fiscal year 2008 for $62,742,469 in combined total wages. The average salary was $68,947 while the highest paid registered nurse made $188,009. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows the mean salary for a registered nurse in Illinois was $65,440. Our IllinoisOpenGov.org website distinguishes between “Registered Nurse...

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

by Brian Costin An 6-month follow up audit of the Schaumburg Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed that still only 4 of 18 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6...

New Trier Township Area Transparency Results, 4 out of 25 Pass

New Trier Township Area Transparency Results, 4 out of 25 Pass

by Brian Costin An audit of the New Trier Township area in northern Cook County revealed only 4 of 25 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different...

Palatine Township Area Transparency Results, Only District 211 Passes

Palatine Township Area Transparency Results, Only District 211 Passes

by Brian Costin An audit of the Palatine Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed only 1 of 12 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online...

A History of Excellence…Wait…That’s Not It.

A History of Excellence…Wait…That’s Not It.

by Kristin Nisbet A recent piece in The American Spectator by RiShawn Biddle, chronicles Illinois’ less than perfect past.  Biddle explains that as things have gotten hairy for former Illinois governor Blagojevich, the prospect of what’s to come for either Quinn or Brady does not promise “sunshine, lollipops and rainbows.” But even if he lands in prison,...

Barrington Township Area Transparency Results, None Pass Test

Barrington Township Area Transparency Results, None Pass Test

An audit of the Barrington Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed no local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online transparency categories including elected & administrative...

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

An 6-month follow up audit of the Schaumburg Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed that still only 4 of 18 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart...

By Brian Costin

Palatine Township Area Transparency Results, Only District 211 Passes

Palatine Township Area Transparency Results, Only District 211 Passes

An audit of the Palatine Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed only 1 of 12 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online transparency categories including...

By Brian Costin

New Trier Township Area Transparency Results, 4 out of 25 Pass

New Trier Township Area Transparency Results, 4 out of 25 Pass

An audit of the New Trier Township area in northern Cook County revealed only 4 of 25 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online transparency...

By Brian Costin

Hanover Township Area Transparency Results, Only 1 of 12 Agencies Pass

Hanover Township Area Transparency Results, Only 1 of 12 Agencies Pass

An audit of the Hanover Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed only 1 of 12 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online transparency categories including...

By Brian Costin

Barrington Township Area Transparency Results, None Pass Test

Barrington Township Area Transparency Results, None Pass Test

An audit of the Barrington Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed no local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.  The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart on 10 different online transparency categories including elected & administrative...

By Brian Costin

State Hires 22 Receptionists

State Hires 22 Receptionists

by Will Compernolle The State of Illinois hired 22 receptionists in fiscal year 2008 for $657,353.22 in combined total wages. Of the 22, 14 were titled “receptionist,” 4 were titled “clerk typist/receptionist,” 2 were titled “office receptionist,” and 1 was titled “receptionist-secretary.” The highest paid receptionist made $49,972 while the average receptionist took home a...