Rauner budget would keep funding steady for more than a third of state agencies

By Shawn Tonge

02/25/2015

Total proposed appropriations for more than one-third of state agencies – 37 departments out of nearly 100 – would change by 5 percent or less.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, taxes

Detailing Rauner’s pension plan

By Benjamin VanMetre

02/21/2015

Rauner’s initial pension proposal helps him achieve his goal of a balanced budget without tax increases. But it will take a comprehensive, 401(k)-style reform plan to solve the pension crisis once and for all.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, taxes

Rauner details landmark budget

02/18/2015

One of the biggest wins in this proposal is that the governor did not propose tax increases or borrowing.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget

Illinois government employees take home inflated pay

By Austin Berg

02/03/2015

Illinois’ state-government compensation ratio – in other words, what state employees are paid relative to the state’s private-sector workers – is two-thirds higher than the national average.

TAGS: budget, spending

Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets

By Michael Lucci

01/25/2015

Twenty years of flight have wreaked havoc on state and local budgets, causing an estimated $7.6 billion in tax-revenue losses annually. Any long-term fix to Illinois’ budget crisis must address the state’s out-migration crisis.

TAGS: budget

Report prescribes expired medicine for state’s fiscal sickness

By Jonelle Lesniak

01/22/2015

Revenues will not solve the problem. Illinois lawmakers need to look at spending.

TAGS: budget, IGPA: Institute of Government and Public Affairs, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, taxes

Brief details crushing weight of pension costs for Illinois municipalities

By Benjamin VanMetre

01/15/2015

More than 20 police and 10 fire pension funds were less than 30 percent funded in 2012.

TAGS: budget, IML: Illinois Municipal League, municipal government, taxes

5 takeaways from Rauner’s inaugural speech

By Hilary Gowins

01/13/2015

Five things to remember from Governor Bruce Rauner's Inaugural speech

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget

Illinois could save up to $1.2B through local revenue-sharing adjustments.

By Robert Steere

01/13/2015

As the state faces its most pressing budget crisis ever, it is time to rethink how much of its income-tax revenue it can afford to pass back to local governments.

TAGS: budget, income tax, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, taxes

Quinn finds millions for dog parks, disc golf and bathhouses

By Brian Costin

01/10/2015

Gov. Pat Quinn doled out $24 million in taxpayer money during his last days in office.

TAGS: budget, good government, Pat Quinn, spending

budget

Rauner budget would keep funding steady for more than a third of state agencies

Detailing Rauner’s pension plan

Rauner details landmark budget

Illinois government employees take home inflated pay

Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets

Report prescribes expired medicine for state’s fiscal sickness

Brief details crushing weight of pension costs for Illinois municipalities

5 takeaways from Rauner’s inaugural speech

Illinois could save up to $1.2B through local revenue-sharing adjustments.

Quinn finds millions for dog parks, disc golf and bathhouses

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students