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

Illinois taxpayers could cut back local governments under bipartisan bill

By Vincent Caruso

03/06/2019

The Citizens Empowerment Act would let taxpayers cut local government at the ballot box. Illinois lawmakers from both parties are backing it.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, property taxes, Sam Yingling, taxes

Senate Bill could stop drainage districts from draining tax dollars

By Ben Paoletti

03/02/2019

Illinois has more than 850 drainage districts. A bill in the Illinois Senate could eliminate some of those government units – and save the tax dollars that support them.

TAGS: consolidation, Dan McConchie, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes

Chrysler to cut nearly 1,400 Illinois jobs, add 6,500 in Michigan

By Vincent Caruso

03/01/2019

The Jeep Cherokee manufacturer plans to lay off nearly 1,400 workers at its Belvidere, Illinois, facility and invest $4.5 billion in a 6,500-job expansion in Michigan.

TAGS: employment, Fiat Chrysler, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, regulations, taxes, unemployment

Study: Illinois property taxes still second-highest in nation

By Vincent Caruso

02/26/2019

For the second year in a row, a WalletHub study found Illinois’ high property tax burden is second only to New Jersey.

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

Illinois state and local governments spend most in nation on pensions

By Adam Schuster

02/22/2019

According to recent data, Illinois spends nearly double the national average on pensions, measured as a percentage of all state and local government spending.

TAGS: GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, JRS: Judges’ Retirement System, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, SERS: State Employee Retirement System, SURS: State Universities Retirement System, taxes, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Kiss-off: Too many Illinoisans breaking up with the state

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2019

Every relationship comes with its sacrifices. But for an alarming number of Illinoisans, parting ways with Illinois is how they choose to get on with their lives.

TAGS: jobs, outmigration, property taxes, Spending, spending cap, taxes

Property tax rates nearly double since 2007 as residents leave Harvey, Illinois

By Vincent Caruso

02/11/2019

Declining home values and a shrinking tax base have created a bigger property tax burden for Harvey, Illinois, homeowners. For their higher taxes, residents get corruption, debt and fewer services.

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

Blank check: Illinois lawmakers file progressive income tax amendment

By Adam Schuster

02/08/2019

An amendment to scrap Illinois’ constitutional flat tax protection is gaining sponsors in the Illinois Senate. Lawmakers have refused to discuss rates since those details killed the last progressive tax attempt.

TAGS: Don Harmon, graduated income tax, income, income tax, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

House bill would lower all Illinois property tax levies by 10 percent

By Vincent Caruso

02/06/2019

The proposal would lower all local governments’ property tax levies by 10 percent and then freeze them in Illinois. Any future increase would require voter approval.

TAGS: Jonathan Carroll, property taxes, PTELL: Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, taxes