Investigation: Madigan firm the biggest player in commercial property tax appeals

By Austin Berg

12/08/2017

A new investigation by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois reveals the mismanagement of the Cook County property tax system, and the politically connected firms who profit from it.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, cronyism, Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, ProPublica, Steve Brown

Illinois Senate votes to revive EDGE business tax credit program

By Brendan Bakala

08/14/2017

House Bill 162 would bring back Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit program.

TAGS: cronyism, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits

Taxpayer-funded Lombard hotel filing for bankruptcy

By Joe Kaiser

08/04/2017

A decade-old, 18-story, taxpayer-funded hotel in the village of Lombard is headed for bankruptcy, proving to be a misguided investment of taxpayer dollars.

TAGS: cronyism, Lombard, Lombard Public Facilities Corp, municipal government

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

By Austin Berg

07/27/2017

Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Frank Mautino, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium

By Joe Kaiser

05/24/2017

The village of Rosemont is moving forward on a $60 million taxpayer-funded baseball stadium.

TAGS: budget, cronyism, Rosemont, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Akuna Capital signed tax break deal with state of Illinois estimated to be worth $4.5M

By Brendan Bakala

05/23/2017

In 2015, Chicago-headquartered Akuna Capital LLC signed a deal with the state of Illinois that state officials estimated to be worth $4.5 million. As part of the agreement, Akuna agreed to hire 10 new employees. The agreement states the new hires specialized in trading and software.

TAGS: cronyism, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, tax credits

Illinois gave Glassdoor more than $6M in tax breaks in 2016

By Brendan Bakala

05/05/2017

Glassdoor agreed to three sets of hiring dates in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in which the job-finding website would hire 240 new employees.

TAGS: cronyism, tax credits

Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015

By Brendan Bakala

05/02/2017

The state agreed to the tax credits in exchange for Capital One hiring 210 new employees and retaining 900.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Business and Employment Development Tax Credit Act, cronyism, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, jobs, Michael Zalewski, Mike Madigan, Natalie Manley, Pam Althoff, tax credits, Transforming Helping and Reviving Illinois’ Versatile Economy

Amazon received more than $112 million in EDGE tax credits in 2016

By Brendan Bakala

04/14/2017

In exchange for more than $112 million in tax breaks, Amazon promised to expand its Illinois operations and hire 7,200 new employees in Aurora, Monee and Joliet.

TAGS: Amazon, Aurora, cronyism, DCEO, jobs, Joliet, Monee, tax credits

Lawmakers and special interests propose revamped EDGE tax credit program

By Brendan Bakala

03/20/2017

As state debts mount and budget plans remain in limbo, Illinois lawmakers move to expand EDGE tax credits.

TAGS: cronyism, DCEO, Michael Zalewski, tax credits

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

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Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

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Tracy Ross

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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