Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

By Brendan Bakala

10/16/2017

Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

TAGS: Bloomington, consolidation, fees, local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, Naperville, New Lenox, Oswego, pensions, Peoria, property taxes, sales tax, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheaton

Oswego hikes taxes on fuel and prepared food and beverages

By Brendan Bakala

09/07/2017

The new taxes are planned to pay for road maintenance and improvement as well as general use. As is the case in communities throughout Illinois, pension costs are crowding out other spending in Oswego.

TAGS: budget, municipal government, Oswego, pensions, property taxes

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

Chicago’s 2020 Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance, while well-intentioned, has stifled development. Despite 71% of Chicagoans being in favor of putting additional dwelling units on existing residential lots – higher than the national average – restrictive and inequitable regulations have ensured very few are built.1 Only 44% of pre-approved applications have received building permits since the...

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Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

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Joseph Miscimarra

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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