Illinoisans pay 2nd-highest local government fines, fees in nation
Illinoisans gave up $50 on average to fines and fees last year. That’s the second-most in the nation and almost double the U.S. average.
Illinois cities take on more debt to cope with pensions
Pension deficits are causing communities to consider more borrowing – and gambling with the proceeds – as pensions continue to consume bigger shares of budgets.
Bill fights Illinois corruption with online access to government spending, records
Putting the public’s business on public display can help Illinois reform its culture of corruption and control government waste. An Illinois House bill will put more local government records online.
Those closest to a disaster tend to show best how to respond
The individual choices we make every day will curb or aggravate the pandemic. And the policies we collectively pursue will either let us bounce back or aggravate the economic disaster.
After $1B in tickets and 4 corruption indictments, Illinois should shutter the red-light camera industry
With a federal corruption probe burrowing deeper into Springfield, the Illinois General Assembly has only one choice when it comes to the future of a red-light camera industry that has infected nearly 100 communities statewide: shut it down.
Illinois township pensioners have collected nearly $300M over past 20 years
While often regarded as a duplicative and unnecessary unit of government, former township employees in Illinois have banked more than $273 million in pension benefits since 1998.
Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems
Avenues for state oversight for cities with financial difficulties have limited utility in the face of massive pension debt and have almost never been invoked since Springfield passed them into law in 1990.
Algonquin Township denies taxpayers the choice to consolidate road district
A new law gives townships the option to let voters abolish their road districts through referendum. But Algonquin Township trustees rejected a resolution that would have given taxpayers that choice.
More than 90 local government leaders sign on to letter opposing progressive tax
Local government leaders across Illinois are asking their state lawmakers to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.
Former Vernon Hills village manager to receive $161K severance package
While details surrounding the ex-official’s separation with the village remain undisclosed to the public, trustees’ approval of his $161,000 severance package went unobstructed.
