Pritzker warns Illinois state agencies to brace for ‘significant’ budget cuts

By Vincent Caruso

09/16/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker advised state agencies to prepare for budget cuts next fiscal year, despite approving $4.7 billion in tax and fee hikes in his first year alone.

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Will County home values down 28%, property taxes up 4% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/12/2019

Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue eating at Will County homeowners.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes, Will County

Kane County home values down 29%, property tax up 4% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/11/2019

Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue hurting Kane County homeowners.

TAGS: Kane County, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

State bailout of local pension funds would bring Illinois pension debt to $200B

By Adam Schuster

09/10/2019

Bailing out local governments’ underwater pension funds would exacerbate Illinois’ pension debt, inviting tax hikes on middle class Illinoisans.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

DuPage County home values down 24%, property tax up 7% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/09/2019

Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue swamping DuPage County homeowners.

TAGS: DuPage County, home values, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Lake County property taxes up 2%, despite home values down 31% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/06/2019

Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue eating at Lake County homeowners.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

McHenry County home values down 33%, property taxes up 0.4% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/05/2019

Without true pension reform, McHenry County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.

TAGS: McHenry County, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

By Adam Schuster

08/29/2019

By continuing practices such as automatic raises and taxpayer-subsidized platinum health insurance, along with a new $2,500 bonus, the AFSCME contract will transfer more than $3.6 billion in extra compensation from taxpayers to state workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, health insurance, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

Illinois K-12 school districts losing students, gaining administrators

By Adam Schuster

08/27/2019

Despite shrinking populations of students and teachers, Illinois school districts have continued to grow their administrative bodies.

TAGS: education, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, school district consolidation, school district efficiency

Lightfoot looks to Springfield for more taxing power on high-end services, home sales

By Vincent Caruso

08/23/2019

Chicago’s mayor wants permission from Springfield to impose a new tax on high-end professional services and raise taxes on pricier home sales, as the city faces down a $1 billion deficit.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, real estate, service tax, taxes

pension guarantee

Pritzker warns Illinois state agencies to brace for ‘significant’ budget cuts

Will County home values down 28%, property taxes up 4% since recession

Kane County home values down 29%, property tax up 4% since recession

State bailout of local pension funds would bring Illinois pension debt to $200B

DuPage County home values down 24%, property tax up 7% since recession

Lake County property taxes up 2%, despite home values down 31% since recession

McHenry County home values down 33%, property taxes up 0.4% since recession

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

Illinois K-12 school districts losing students, gaining administrators

Lightfoot looks to Springfield for more taxing power on high-end services, home sales

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