A bill in the Illinois House seeks to transfer policing authority from the Cook County Forest Preserve District to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, potentially saving taxpayers millions.

TAGS: consolidation, Cook County, cook county forest preserve district, cook county forest preserve police, cook county sheriff, local government consolidation

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

Coke County: Townships overwhelmingly reject bringing back soda tax

11/07/2018

Voters across seven Cook County townships strongly oppose a return of the sweetened beverage tax.

TAGS: Cook County, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

53,000 Cook County homeowners to receive $19.5M in property tax refunds

By Chris Lentino

08/03/2018

Millions in property tax refunds will go out to Cook County homeowners as early as Aug. 15.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

By Chris Lentino

07/26/2018

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts controlled by the mayor, nearly half of which are located in affluent neighborhoods.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, Cook County, John F. Curran, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, William Davis

Cook County property tax bills set to increase by 5 percent

06/26/2018

Chicago homeowners will see their property tax bills rise by an average of $110 this summer. But suburban residents and business owners should also prepare for a hike.

TAGS: Cook County, Joseph Berrios, property taxes, taxes

Inspector general: Personnel, procedural errors cost Cook County hospital system $165 million in revenue

By Eric Kohn

05/18/2018

While the county hospital system loses out on revenue, county payroll and retirement costs continue to climb.

TAGS: Cook County, Cook County Health and Hospitals system, municipal pensions, pensions, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County

Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007

Forget doubling gas taxes, Illinois lawmakers want to rev it even higher

86 Illinois counties see population loss in 2018

House bill would merge Cook County forest preserve police with county sheriff

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

Coke County: Townships overwhelmingly reject bringing back soda tax

53,000 Cook County homeowners to receive $19.5M in property tax refunds

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

Cook County property tax bills set to increase by 5 percent

Inspector general: Personnel, procedural errors cost Cook County hospital system $165 million in revenue

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