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Amendment 1 could block efforts to shrink Illinois’ 6,000-plus layers of government

By Joe Tabor
10/18/2022
Amendment 1 would empower government unions to the point that their contracts could prevent consolidation of Illinois’ nation-leading number of local governments. Neither state law nor voters would be able to do much about it.

TAGS: local government consolidation

DuPage County taxpayers may save $100M by cutting government layers

By Dylan Sharkey
10/04/2022
DuPage County consolidated seven taxing bodies to streamline government. The move will save $100 million for taxpayers over two decades.

TAGS: DuPage County, local government consolidation

Springfield asks residents to remove duplicate layer of government

By Dylan Sharkey
09/29/2022
The Springfield City Council voted to add an advisory referendum to the April ballot asking voters whether to eliminate the local township and let the city handle its duties.

TAGS: local government consolidation, townships

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

By Dylan Sharkey
05/22/2022
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, local government consolidation, property 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

House bill would lower property taxes by trimming Illinois government waste

By Justin Carlson
02/03/2022
Illinois leads the nation in local government bloat, with over 6,000 taxing bodies. The Citizen’s Empowerment Act, sponsored by Illinois House Rep. Jonathan Carroll, would make it easier for Illinois taxpayers to dissolve unnecessary layers of government.

TAGS: Illinois, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, property taxes, waste

Civic Federation finds nearly 9,000 tax-guzzling government units in Illinois

By Justin Carlson
04/19/2021
A recent comprehensive analysis found the real number of government units in Illinois is 30% higher than the U.S. Census Bureau’s count. Too many government units mean too many taxes.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, Illinois, local government consolidation, school district efficiency

Too many government units means property taxes are too high in Illinois

By Patrick Andriesen
03/30/2021
A bill to eliminate some of Illinois’ 1,400 townships is on hold, but state lawmakers could revive it and give voters the power to reduce their property tax bills.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, local government consolidation, property taxes, townships

Citizens Empowerment Act could mean relief for Illinois property taxpayers

By Justin Carlson
03/22/2021
House Bill 433 would make it easier for Illinois taxpayers to dissolve unnecessary units of government in the state with the nation’s highest number of government units.

TAGS: administrative bloat, Citizens Empowerment Act, local government consolidation, property taxes

Property taxes turning American dreams into Illinois nightmares

By Austin Berg
03/05/2020
Visions of the community’s future no longer bring comfort. Instead, they inspire crippling fear.

TAGS: corruption, home values, homeownership, local government consolidation, Matteson, pensions, property taxes, school district consolidation

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Pensions / Research Report

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective


Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total gen­eral funds pension costs, includ­ing pension bond...

View Report

Report Archive

Jobs + Growth / Your Story

Cathy Stuehmeier

Labor / Policy Point

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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