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

As Alton shrinks, school district administrator salaries grow

By Vincent Caruso

05/30/2018

More than half of local school district administrators earn more than $100,000, and those incomes will get a boost after a recent board decision.

TAGS: Alton, consolidation, Madison County, Metro East, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, salaries, school district consolidation, taxes

Metro East property tax bills making their way to mailboxes

05/21/2018

Residents of St. Clair and Madison Counties will soon see some of the nation’s most punishing property tax bills.

TAGS: Alton, Belleville, Madison County, Metro East, property taxes, St. Clair County

Metro East property tax bills making their way to mailboxes

By Austin Berg

05/18/2018

Residents of St. Clair and Madison Counties will soon see some of the nation’s most punishing property tax bills.

TAGS: collective bargaining, Madison County, Metro East, municipal pensions, pensions, prevailing wage, property taxes, St. Clair County, taxes

Report: Metro East property tax rates nearly double national average

04/23/2018

Both Madison and St. Clair County taxpayers paid a higher effective tax rate than the national average in 2017, a year which also saw continued outmigration from the region.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, property taxes, St. Clair County

Progressive tax proposal would mean as much as a $600 tax hike for typical Metro East family

03/30/2018

Though some politicians claim a progressive income tax would only affect the rich, rates established under House Bill 3522 would raise income taxes on middle-class families.

TAGS: income tax, Madison County, Metro East, progressive income tax, Robert Martwick, St. Clair County

Outmigration fuels Madison, St. Clair County population dips in 2017

03/25/2018

Madison and St. Clair counties both saw their populations decline from July 2016 to July 2017, thanks to outmigration – a problem the counties have been dealing with for years.

TAGS: Madison County, outmigration, population, spending, spending cap, St. Clair County

Madison County voters reject sales tax hike at the ballot box

By Amanda McDonald

03/23/2018

Local voters struck down a 1 percent sales tax hike for the third time in seven years.

TAGS: Madison County, sales tax

Alton voters to decide on sales tax hike at the ballot box

By Amanda McDonald

03/19/2018

Madison County voters have rejected a proposed 1 percent sales tax hike twice before. Will the third time be a charm?

TAGS: Madison County, property taxes, sales tax

Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending

By Vincent Caruso

02/20/2018

Residents in Madison and St. Clair counties find themselves fleeced by lawmakers' failure to control state finances.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, spending, spending cap, St. Clair County

Madison County

Madison County voters eliminate office of recorder of deeds

As Alton shrinks, school district administrator salaries grow

Metro East property tax bills making their way to mailboxes

Metro East property tax bills making their way to mailboxes

Report: Metro East property tax rates nearly double national average

Progressive tax proposal would mean as much as a $600 tax hike for typical Metro East family

Outmigration fuels Madison, St. Clair County population dips in 2017

Madison County voters reject sales tax hike at the ballot box

Alton voters to decide on sales tax hike at the ballot box

Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending

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