Bipartisan township consolidation bill reintroduced in Springfield

By Joe Barnas

02/05/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill before leaving office, but bipartisan support in the General Assembly may send it back to the governor’s desk.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, Mark Batinick, Sam Yingling, township, townships

Inauguration day: 5 pro-taxpayer reforms Pritzker should push in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

01/14/2019

The Land of Lincoln has a new governor, but the state’s deep-seated problems remain. Here are five reforms that newly inaugurated Gov. J.B. Pritzker could pursue to begin setting the state on the right fiscal path.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, school district consolidation, spending cap

With 517 laws passed last year, odds are some will help Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Mindy Ruckman

12/19/2018

New Year brings new laws as the 100thGeneral Assembly ends. Here are a few wins for Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, law, licensing, local government consolidation, occupational licensing, pensions, regulations, school district consolidation

McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor

By Vincent Caruso

11/17/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find relief through tax savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, McHenry County, Sam Yingling

Vernon Township voters drive their road district to the junkyard

By Vincent Caruso

11/08/2018

Voters just north of Cook County scrap an unnecessary layer of local government and its six-figure commissioner.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes

Metro East voters dissolve underwater park district

By Brad Weisenstein

11/07/2018

Taxpayers voted overwhelmingly to dissolve Collinsville Area Recreation District – but the debt the district incurred will burden taxpayers for years.

TAGS: Collinsville, consolidation, local government consolidation, Madison County, Metro East, property taxes

Godfrey voters eliminate township

By Brad Weisenstein

11/07/2018

Godfrey voters decided Nov. 6 to dissolve the village’s duplicative township, a measure that officials had been weighing for nearly 20 years.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes

Madison County voters eliminate office of recorder of deeds

By Brad Weisenstein

11/07/2018

Madison County voters decided Nov. 6 that responsibilities such as recording land transfers and maintaining deeds no longer justify a separate office for an elected official.

TAGS: local government consolidation, Madison County, pensions, property taxes

Voters want Springfield to shed a little government

By Janelle Cammenga

11/07/2018

Voters said they don’t need a township on top of Springfield city government, but unless Sangamon County leaders act there will be no tax savings.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, Springfield, taxes, townships

Alton Township survives consolidation referendum

By Brad Weisenstein

11/07/2018

Alton Township was on the chopping block Nov. 6. While neighboring communities consolidated unnecessary layers of government, Alton residents will keep their township.

TAGS: Alton, consolidation, local government consolidation, taxes, township

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