4 ways Chicago’s 2025 budget fails, plus hikes property taxes

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

11/01/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget proposes a nearly $1 billion deficit. High personnel and pension costs have Johnson breaking his campaign promise not to hike property taxes. Plus there’s no plan for long-term fixes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

See if your state lawmaker took Chicago Teachers Union money

By Brad Weisenstein

10/28/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union has spent nearly $1.3 million on campaign donations in an effort to influence what happens in the Illinois General Assembly. See if your state lawmakers accepted money from the CTU.

TAGS: Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Chicago budget has jumped $6B since before COVID, faces $1B deficit in 2025

By Ravi Mishra

10/24/2024

The Chicago budget has grown by over $6 billion since 2019. Despite being bolstered by billions in federal relief, the city is facing nearly a $1 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year.

TAGS: Chicago

La población de Chicago alcanza su punto más bajo desde 1920

By Bryce Hill

09/16/2024

En el Censo de 1920, la población de Chicago era de 2.7 millones, un aumento de más de 516,000 en una década. Más de 100 años después, la población de Chicago es de 2.66 millones, una pérdida de 128,034 tras nueve años consecutivos de declive.

TAGS: Chicago, population

EL CONCEJO MUNICIPAL DE CHICAGO CONSIDERA 16 NUEVOS AUMENTOS DE IMPUESTOS Y TASAS

By Patrick Andriesen

09/02/2024

El concejal de Chicago, Will Hall, del sexto distrito, ha propuesto 16 nuevos aumentos de impuestos y tarifas a sus colegas del concejo municipal a través de una encuesta.

TAGS: Chicago, taxes

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stares down a $1 billion city budget deficit

By Bryce Hill

08/30/2024

Updated budget forecasts show a $982 million shortfall for the upcoming 2025 budget as Chicago grapples with $223 million remaining deficit this year. Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to rule out property tax hikes.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, property taxes

Violence up 7.2%: robberies, aggravated assaults, batteries hit 5-year highs

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/29/2024

Chicagoans experienced 7.2% more violent crime between August 2023 and July 204, with cases of robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery at five-year highs.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

By Dylan Sharkey

08/16/2024

Education will be a major platform piece during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Too bad the party will meet near a Chicago school where spending $27K per student yields none who can read at grade level.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

Chicago has more public pension debt than 43 states

By Ravi Mishra

08/15/2024

Chicago’s pension systems for city workers have $51 billion in debt, so much that they are in worse shape than 43 states. Fixing them requires Chicago’s mayor to push for a change in the Illinois Constitution.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

By Bryce Hill

08/15/2024

Nearly 100,000 Chicago-area residents are out of work, and at 6.2% the Chicago metro area has the highest unemployment rate of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. Illinois as a whole isn’t doing much better, with a 6.1% unemployment rate.

TAGS: Chicago, unemployment

Chicago

4 ways Chicago’s 2025 budget fails, plus hikes property taxes

See if your state lawmaker took Chicago Teachers Union money

Chicago budget has jumped $6B since before COVID, faces $1B deficit in 2025

La población de Chicago alcanza su punto más bajo desde 1920

EL CONCEJO MUNICIPAL DE CHICAGO CONSIDERA 16 NUEVOS AUMENTOS DE IMPUESTOS Y TASAS

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stares down a $1 billion city budget deficit

Violence up 7.2%: robberies, aggravated assaults, batteries hit 5-year highs

Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

Chicago has more public pension debt than 43 states

Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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