The mayor’s proposed 2 percent fee would punish short-term rental customers and providers.

Yes, the state has a budget. But how that budget came to be reveals the reasons our state continues to spend with abandon, tax too much and fail in fostering an economy where its people can prosper.

While it’s the closest the state has come to passing a balanced budget in years, Illinois’ new spending plan leaves a lot to be desired for taxpayers.

Lawmakers claiming to have passed a balanced budget are relying on a number of common, but deceptive, budget maneuvers.

Lawmakers voted to approve the 1,245-page budget less than 24 hours after it was revealed to the public.

A majority of House lawmakers sided with the speaker over tapped-out taxpayers.

State senators voted to approve the 1,245-page budget just hours after it was made public.

Taxpayers in the city of Alton, which has identical borders to that of Alton Township, could see savings through consolidation.

Springfield is struggling to juggle its priorities, with state lawmakers pressing up against time to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.