Pritzker’s AFSCME deal favors wealthy workers over middle class

By Mailee Smith

06/19/2019

AFSCME Council 31 recently told its members to push the Illinois General Assembly for tax rates that are “fair” for the middle class. But AFSCME’s new contract should cause its middle-class members to question whether the union holds itself to the same standard.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, JB Pritzker, labor, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, state worker pay, unions

Pension costs push Metro East property taxes up, as population shrinks

By Ben Szalinski

06/17/2019

Residents in Illinois’ Metro East area are fleeing a growing property tax burden, fueling regional population loss.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, St. Clair County, taxes

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

By Bill Reveille

06/17/2019

Persistent budget deficits, enormous and growing pension obligations, a high debt burden and labor contract negotiations all await Lori Lightfoot as she settles into office.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

No. 2 New Jersey confronts pension crisis as No. 1 Illinois dithers

By Ben Szalinski

06/13/2019

The New Jersey Senate president is proposing solutions to the state’s pension problem. Illinois is worse off, but state leaders remain silent on reforms.

TAGS: New Jersey, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Pritzker budget lifts cap on pension spiking

By Vincent Caruso

06/05/2019

A provision included in Illinois’ previous budget aimed to protect state taxpayers from end-of-career salary spiking in local school districts. The budget proposal en route to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would repeal that protection.

TAGS: budget, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, pritzker, spiking

Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession

By Adam Schuster

05/21/2019

Financial stress testing shows Illinois and New Jersey are the most unprepared for the next recession. Both states lack sufficient rainy day funds and struggle with large pension debt.

TAGS: debt, Moody's Investor Service, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, recession, revenue

Without pension reform, progressive income tax amendment guarantees tax hikes on Illinois’ middle class

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

05/21/2019

The current progressive income tax proposal would fail to pay down the state's unfunded liability while damaging Illinois' economy.

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

Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities

By Joe Barnas

05/18/2019

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $119,110 worth of unfunded state, city, county and other local government debt. Many of the pensions driving those debts become Lori Lightfoot’s problem on Monday.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Illinois’ wealthiest bureaucrats want this bill dead

By Austin Berg

05/16/2019

There should be no compromise with those who are looking out for their own bottom line above the good of the state.

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

More than 130 six-figure school district administrators oppose education efficiency bill

By Joe Barnas

05/14/2019

An Illinois House bill that would allow more education funding dollars reach the classroom before getting trapped in administration has earned support from both parties – and the opposition of administrators.

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