Report: Rock Island County property tax rate more than double the national average

By Austin Berg

04/16/2018

Single-family homeowners in Rock Island County pay an average property tax bill above $2,800, according to a new report.

TAGS: outmigration, property taxes, taxes

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

By Joe Kaiser

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

Election season in the land of shrinkin’

By Austin Berg

03/22/2018

Getting Illinois to grow again starts with getting those who remain to believe it’s possible. And even more, to believe it’s a state worth saving.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes

Of the nation’s 10 largest metro areas, only Chicago saw population loss in 2017

By Austin Berg

03/22/2018

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area witnessed population decline over the year, as did nearly every other metro area in Illinois.

TAGS: Chicago, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

More than 80 percent of Illinois counties saw population loss in 2017

By Bryce Hill, Austin Berg

03/22/2018

As outmigration fuels population decline throughout the state, Cook County saw the largest numeric population loss of any county in the nation.

TAGS: collar counties, Cook County, outmigration, U.S. Census Bureau

Border war: In Quad Cities, Illinois shrinks as Iowa grows

By Austin Berg

02/23/2018

The Quad Cities are a case study in how the Land of Lincoln is lagging behind its neighbors.

TAGS: outmigration, property taxes, quad cities

Illinois’ economy continues to fall behind other states, according to fiscal forecast

By Vincent Caruso

02/16/2018

The worst years of the Great Recession are in the rear view. But if the latest gloomy fiscal forecast is any indication, Illinois' persistent policy mistakes will drag down its economic performance well into the future.

TAGS: COGFA, economy, jobs, outmigration, unemployment

The most misleading myths in Illinois politics

By Austin Berg

02/15/2018

Fixing what ails the state requires Illinoisans of all political stripes to be honest about how they got here.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes

Tax Olympics: Chicago tops the table on taxes and fees

By Chris Lentino

02/14/2018

In a comparative analysis of taxes and fees in the nation's top 15 cities, Chicago won first place more times than any other city.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, outmigration, population, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax, taxes, wireless tax

Kiss-off: Too many Illinoisans breaking up with the state

By Vincent Caruso

02/13/2018

Every relationship comes with some sacrifices. But for an alarming number of Illinoisans, they're opting instead to sacrifice their state IDs.

TAGS: jobs, outmigration, property taxes, spending cap, taxes