Rahm to Springfield: State gas tax needs to at least double

By Vincent Caruso

12/11/2018

Departing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel accelerated calls to boost Illinois’ gas tax to pay for local transportation projects.

TAGS: Chicago, gas tax, JB Pritzker, Rahm Emanuel, taxes, transportation, VMT: vehicle miles traveled

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel endorsing pension amendment to Illinois Constitution

By Adam Schuster

12/11/2018

Outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel is publicly pushing for a constitutional amendment to the state’s pension clause. Pension reform is the only way to combat rising property taxes and prevent further budget chaos in Illinois state and local governments.

TAGS: Chicago, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Chicago anticipated to be nation’s weakest major housing market in 2019

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

12/06/2018

A study by realtor.com ranks the Chicago region’s housing market slowest of 100 U.S. metro areas for 2019. That stat could be fixed, or made worse.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home price index, housing, property taxes, taxes

Illinois Supreme Court defends inflated pensions for Chicago union leaders

By Adam Schuster

12/01/2018

Once again proving why the state must amend the Illinois Constitution’s pension clause, the court unanimously ruled in favor of a special perk that inflated union leader pensions to nearly three times the pension of the average worker.

TAGS: Chicago, credit rating, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Rahm Emanuel

FBI raids office of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke

By Austin Berg

11/29/2018

Burke has served on the Chicago City Council for nearly 50 years, and has long been the subject of ethical complaints from government watchdogs.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, corruption, Ed Burke

Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman

By Vincent Caruso

11/28/2018

State lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that allows one former firefighter serving as a Chicago alderman to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. The pension boost will also apply to future aldermen with a history of fire department work.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, Nicholas Sposato, pension guarantee, pensions, Robert Martwick

Chicago slaps PlayStation users with expansion of 9 percent amusement tax

By Joe Barnas

11/18/2018

PlayStation users will now see an extra 9 percent tax applied to some purchases on the platform.

TAGS: amusement tax, Chicago, Labell v. City of Chicago, taxes, Toi Hutchinson

House bill would boost pension payments for Chicago aldermen

By Vincent Caruso

11/10/2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill to allow former firefighters serving as Chicago aldermen to credit their political salary toward a more lucrative firefighter pension. It could come back during veto session.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Robert Martwick

Sinkhole city: Financial watchdog again gives Chicago an ‘F’ in finances

By Vincent Caruso

11/02/2018

An annual analysis of Chicago’s finances finds the city’s debt burden continues to weigh heavily on the shoulders of taxpayers.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes, Truth in Accounting

Theft, solicitation of bribes among misconduct in Chicago inspector general’s report

By Joe Barnas

10/22/2018

Chicago’s inspector general unveiled a litany of misconduct by city employees and contractors.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption