Lightfoot asks Springfield for progressive ‘exit tax’ on Chicago property sales

By Brad Weisenstein

11/10/2019

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants state lawmakers to let her impose progressively higher real estate transfer tax rates to close a $838 million budget deficit. She faces a limited time window and resistance from state lawmakers.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, outmigration, property taxes, taxes, transaction tax

Kentucky billboards advertise Illinois’ woes to lure businesses

By Brad Weisenstein

10/25/2019

Kentucky’s economic developers are using billboards along Interstate 57 to bring businesses south by highlighting Illinois’ poor finances, high taxes and unwelcoming business climate.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, Kentucky, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, small business, taxes

Poll: High taxes are top reason Illinoisans want to leave state

By Brad Weisenstein

10/10/2019

A year ago, over half of Illinoisans considered moving away, but today it’s more than 6 in 10, a new poll shows. The No. 1 reason cited for wanting to move? High taxes.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, sales tax, taxes

Nearly $2.5B in Illinois public pension payments flow to 70K out-of-state retirees

By Vincent Caruso

06/25/2019

Florida is the top destination for Illinois retirees collecting a public pension.

TAGS: income tax, municipal pensions, outmigration, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

By Tivas Gupta

06/23/2019

Youthful wealth, energy and talent that could help Illinois recover is leaving the state at the nation’s second-highest rate. State leaders’ thirst for new taxes will make the problem worse.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, jobs, millennials, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Land of 1,000 shrinking communities

By Bryce Hill

05/24/2019

Illinois’ lost people problem spreads to more than 1,000 communities in 2018

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Lake County residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation

By Joe Barnas

05/07/2019

As property tax bills hit Lake County mailboxes, residents get a stark reminder that Illinois needs pension reform, not higher taxes.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, Lake County, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Southwestern Illinois loses big chunk of population, with one exception

By Brad Weisenstein

04/25/2019

One Illinois county in the greater St. Louis area is losing so many residents it ranks No. 5 nationwide for population loss. Its neighboring county was one of the few in Illinois to grow.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, Monroe County, outmigration, population, St. Clair County

Illinois employment growth continues to lag the nation through the first quarter of 2019

By Bryce Hill

04/22/2019

Illinois’ total employment growth ranks 31st from December 2018 to March 2019. Continued population loss likely to follow poor job growth.

TAGS: employment, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

86 Illinois counties see population loss in 2018

By Bryce Hill

04/18/2019

Fleeing residents continue to fuel population loss, with Cook County leading the nation for population decline.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, jobs, outmigration, population

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

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2019 Illinois corruption tracker

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Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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