Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high

By Dylan Sharkey

05/09/2022

The second-highest motor fuel tax in the nation keeps Illinois’ gas prices the highest in the Midwest. Diesel hits a record as the average gas price moves close to a record.

TAGS: gas prices, Illinois

Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks

By Justin Carlson

05/03/2022

While Illinois settles for Pritzker’s temporary relief that mostly expires after the November election, its neighbor states are making long-term changes to help grow their economies.

TAGS: Illinois, Midwest, taxes

Illinois is No. 1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high

By Dylan Sharkey

04/29/2022

Illinois has 6,032 local governments, the most in the nation by a wide margin – and that excludes 859 school districts. It’s the main reason Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, Illinois, local government consolidation

Union power vote, population loss threaten Illinois’ labor market recovery

By Bryce Hill

04/28/2022

Key indicators show Illinois’ labor market could begin adding jobs faster than the national economy if population decline and Amendment 1 don’t derail the state’s trajectory.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Illinois schools push district consolidation to fix teacher shortage

By Dylan Sharkey

04/27/2022

School board members in rural Illinois said district consolidation will ease staff shortages made worse by the pandemic. A statewide look at district consolidation could cut administrative overhead and put $732 million more into classrooms.

TAGS: Illinois, school district consolidation, teacher shortage

Illinois lawmakers increase salaries to 4th highest in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen

04/20/2022

Springfield lawmakers will be the fourth-highest paid legislators in the nation after giving themselves a $2,700 raise in the 2023 state budget. Lawmakers’ salaries have increased 8% since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office.

TAGS: Illinois, lawmaker pay

Illinois adds 18,300 jobs in March, still missing 154,500 from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

04/15/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in March, but the state is still missing one in five jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic downturn and state restrictions.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois cities take on more debt to cope with pensions

04/14/2022

Pension deficits are causing communities to consider more borrowing – and gambling with the proceeds – as pensions continue to consume bigger shares of budgets.

TAGS: Illinois, local government, pension obligation bonds

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

By Hannah Schmid

04/14/2022

Membership in teachers unions has decreased nearly 10% since 2017, when public educators gained the right to stop handing their pay to unions.

TAGS: Illinois, opt out, public schools, teachers union

Illinois

Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high

Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks

Illinois is No. 1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high

Union power vote, population loss threaten Illinois’ labor market recovery

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

Illinois schools push district consolidation to fix teacher shortage

Illinois lawmakers increase salaries to 4th highest in U.S.

Illinois adds 18,300 jobs in March, still missing 154,500 from pandemic

Illinois cities take on more debt to cope with pensions

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

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