More than half of local school district administrators earn more than $100,000, and those incomes will get a boost after a recent board decision.

Many school district employees’ earnings are more than double that of the typical Belleville household.

The excessive severance package comes as a bill curbing golden parachutes sits in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Reductions in state subsidies are one reason for Decatur’s predicament, but long-running pension woes are an even larger source of pain.

Residents of St. Clair and Madison Counties will soon see some of the nation’s most punishing property tax bills.

While the county hospital system loses out on revenue, county payroll and retirement costs continue to climb.

The Civic Federation’s criticism of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget is a mixed bag, with its own proposals for Illinois’ financial crisis – including nearly $3 billion in tax hikes – missing the mark.

A proposal to levy a statewide 1 percent residential property tax would vault Illinoisans’ property tax burden to the highest of all 50 states.