Illinois home values down 21%, property taxes up 9% since 2007

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/19/2019

Without serious property tax relief – including pension reform – it is likely fewer will demand planting roots in Illinois.

TAGS: home values, property taxes, taxes

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

By Tivas Gupta

06/23/2019

Youthful wealth, energy and talent that could help Illinois recover is leaving the state at the nation’s second-highest rate. State leaders’ thirst for new taxes will make the problem worse.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, jobs, millennials, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

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

Land of 1,000 shrinking communities

By Bryce Hill

05/24/2019

Illinois’ lost people problem spreads to more than 1,000 communities in 2018

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

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

Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to Pritzker’s desk

By Joe Barnas

05/17/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for McHenry County residents to consolidate their townships. Renewed bipartisan support has sent it back to the governor’s desk, now occupied by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, 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

Southwest Illinois county faces property tax hike, layoffs amid rising pension costs

By Brad Weisenstein

05/10/2019

Perry County is home to the DuQuoin State Fair, but the prize hog is a pension system eating money needed for public safety and other core services. County employees face layoffs.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Perry County, property taxes, taxes

Carroll stands up for Illinois taxpayers, opposes progressive income tax hike

By Vincent Caruso

05/08/2019

Lawmakers should follow state Rep. Jonathan Carroll’s example by demonstrating the political courage to reject a proposed $3.4 billion tax hike.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, JB Pritzker, Jonathan Carroll, progressive income tax, property taxes