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

California’s ‘fair tax’ hike spurred taxpayer exodus, hurt middle class and went mostly to pensions

By Orphe Divounguy

10/28/2019

New academic research on a progressive income tax hike in California should be a warning to Illinois voters deciding on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax hike in November 2020.

TAGS: California, fair tax, graduated income tax, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

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

Lightfoot can’t fix Chicago’s finances without pension reform

By Adam Schuster

10/22/2019

City pension contributions are set to spike by $1 billion over just four years. Taxpayers cannot afford the entire burden of fixing city finances.

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

Illinois’ housing recovery still trails rest of nation

By Orphe Divounguy

10/22/2019

High property tax bills suppress Illinois housing demand, slowing average growth in home values when compared to the rest of the nation.

TAGS: home values, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Chicago Teachers Union on strike for third time in 7 years

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2019

After rejecting an offer based on recommendations of a neutral third-party report, Illinois’ largest teachers’ union walked out on their students Oct. 17.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, property taxes, taxes

CTU is out on strike: 6 things you need to know

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2019

The Chicago Teachers Union went on strike despite an offer that would boost average pay to nearly $100,000. Here’s who is getting hurt and the true costs of the strike.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, strike, taxes, teacher salaries

2 Cook County commissioners each collect over $100K from Chicago Teachers Union

By Vincent Caruso

10/18/2019

Records show two Cook County Board members representing Chicago-area districts have each collected more than $100,000 from the Chicago Teachers Union atop their $85,000 commissioner salaries.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, Cook County, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Larry Suffredin, property taxes, strike, taxes

Pension crisis forces firehouse closure, 9 firefighter layoffs in East St. Louis

By Brad Weisenstein

10/16/2019

East St. Louis is short $9.5 million between a budget deficit and back payments owed to its fire and police pensions. As a result, city leaders are closing a firehouse and laying off nine firefighters.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Plan for over 640 police, fire pensions barely touches Illinois’ $200B problem

By Adam Schuster

10/15/2019

Consolidating downstate and suburban police and fire pension systems is a start, but both fixes and Illinois’ pension problems go much deeper.

TAGS: IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

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