Illinois banks $400M in savings from pension buyouts it can’t calculate

By Bill Reveille

04/11/2019

Illinois borrows money to reduce pension obligations, with more borrowing planned. Claims $400 million in current budget savings, but admits to investors it cannot calculate any savings.

TAGS: Accelerated Pension Benefit Payment, bonds, borrowing, debt, JB Pritzker, pension guarantee, pensions, Program

Pritzker ‘fair tax’ amendment would allow lawmakers to impose new types of income taxes

By Austin Berg

04/10/2019

Despite already shouldering one of the nation’s highest total tax burdens, middle-class Illinoisans would be exposed to extra income taxes under language proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pension guarantee, pensions, pritzker, progressive income tax

Illinois Supreme Court: Union lobbyist can double pension for one day of teaching

By Vincent Caruso

04/05/2019

Illinois’ high court ruled a former union employee who worked a single day in the classroom is eligible to receive a decade’s worth of teacher pension benefits.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, income tax, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, SERS: State Employee Retirement System, taxes, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Property tax hikes wipe out Pritzker’s tax relief promise

By Bryce Hill

04/02/2019

Because the governor doesn’t address state and local governments’ ballooning pension costs, the typical Illinois family will continue to see their tax bills rise.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property, taxes

Pritzker’s $3.4B income tax hike can fund less than 4 months of state pension costs

By Austin Berg, Adam Schuster

03/31/2019

Without reform, Illinois’ pension problem will continue to force tax hikes while crowding out the core services residents need.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois House unanimously passes education efficiency bill

By Adam Schuster

03/28/2019

By reducing administrative bloat in Illinois school districts, the bill would enable property tax relief while ensuring education dollars reach students and classrooms first, rather than bureaucrats.

TAGS: education, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, rita mayfield, school district consolidation, school district efficiency, taxes

Illinois teacher pension fund slams Pritzker’s borrow, delay plan

By Joe Barnas, Adam Schuster

03/28/2019

The Teachers’ Retirement System pension fund board opposed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to repeat past mistakes. Here’s why they are right to oppose it.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Why Illinoisans can’t trust Pritzker’s tax promises

By Austin Berg

03/14/2019

Neither taxpayers nor lawmakers should believe Pritzker when he makes claims of tax cuts – specifically that 97 percent of Illinoisans would see one – as part of his effort to scrap Illinois’ constitutionally protected flat income tax.

TAGS: budget, deficit, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

False choice for Illinois: Pritzker’s budget ignores commonsense alternative

By Adam Schuster

03/12/2019

Facing down a $3 billion deficit, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered an unbalanced budget including more tax hikes, borrowing and spending. He claimed severe cuts were the only alternative, but another option exists.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, economy, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Education efficiency bill would prioritize classroom spending

By Vincent Caruso

03/11/2019

A bill in the Illinois House would empower voters to reform the funding priorities of their local school districts.

TAGS: budget, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, rita mayfield, school district consolidation, taxes