Former Hinsdale superintendent collecting $315k pension

By Ben Szalinski

03/06/2020

The former leader of a wealthy school district is receiving a massive pension boosted by a pair of 20% raises given during her final two years. Illinois needs pension reform.

TAGS: Clarendon Hills, Community Consolidated School District 181, Hinsdale, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, Mary Curley, pension spiking, pensions, property taxes, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Property taxes turning American dreams into Illinois nightmares

By Austin Berg

03/05/2020

Visions of the community’s future no longer bring comfort. Instead, they inspire crippling fear.

TAGS: corruption, home values, homeownership, local government consolidation, Matteson, pensions, property taxes, school district consolidation

Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running

By Brad Weisenstein

03/02/2020

Property taxes in Illinois are nearly double the national average. Until state lawmakers trim down thousands of local governments and pursue pension reform, those bills wills remain high.

TAGS: fair tax, home values, income tax, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, property taxes, school district efficiency

Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t

By Austin Berg

02/28/2020

There’s no doubt: the county taxed soda more, so people bought less of it. It’s a simple lesson. So why doesn’t Springfield get it?

TAGS: Cook County, home price index, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, soda tax, tax burden, Toni Preckwinkle

Mosquito abatement districts targeted by Illinois lawmakers

By Ben Szalinski

02/20/2020

Consolidating Illinois’ nearly 7,000 units of local government could help provide local property tax relief. One bill aims to consolidate mosquito abatement districts.

TAGS: local government consolidation, mosquito abatement district, property taxes

Indiana has seen more single-family homes than Illinois for 10 years in a row

By Austin Berg

01/13/2020

Indiana has around half the population of Illinois. But its building new homes at a rate more than 60% higher.

TAGS: construction, development, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Indiana, JB Pritzker, pensions, property taxes, recession, Springfield

Madigan celebrates 35th anniversary as Illinois House speaker

By Austin Berg

01/12/2020

Illinoisans will soon cast a vote on the biggest ballot question in the history of Madigan’s record-breaking speakership.

TAGS: credit rating, Daley, debt, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, graduated income tax, house rules, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, legislative map, lobbying, Mike Madigan, patronage, progressive income tax, property taxes, redistricting, Richard Daley, Springfield, tax burden, U.S. Census Bureau

Indiana is building far more single-family homes than Illinois

By Austin Berg

01/03/2020

The historic change comes as skyrocketing property tax bills eat into Illinois homeowners’ bottom line.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, home values, homeownership, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Indiana, JB Pritzker, population, property taxes, Springfield, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, U.S. Census Bureau, working-age

Feds investigating former Cook County assessor, Madigan rainmaker Joe Berrios

By Austin Berg

12/17/2019

The probe potentially opens up a new front in authorities’ investigation of House Speaker Mike Madigan: the property tax appeals game from which he has made millions.

TAGS: capital project, Chicago, conflict of interest, Cook County, Cook County assessor, Cook County Democratic Party, corruption, Ed Burke, federal investigation, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Joseph Berrios, Legislative Inspector General, legislative map, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, redistricting, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, Springfield

‘Home Alone’ with a $35K property tax bill

By Brad Weisenstein

12/17/2019

No longer are two guys in stocking caps attacking the Winnetka house made famous in the holiday movie, but property taxes and declining home values are still robbing the owners.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home alone, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, property taxes, Springfield, Winnetka