More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

By Brendan Bakala

09/12/2017

Lucrative compensation for government workers stands in stark contrast to the city’s budgetary struggles and a flagging local economy.

TAGS: local government, municipal government, pensions, peoria, property taxes

Each Chicago household on the hook for $82K in local government debt

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/11/2017

After a tax hike spree from Chicago-area politicians, residents are stuck paying more only to carry an ever-larger load of debt.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel

Oswego hikes taxes on fuel and prepared food and beverages

By Brendan Bakala

09/07/2017

The new taxes are planned to pay for road maintenance and improvement as well as general use. As is the case in communities throughout Illinois, pension costs are crowding out other spending in Oswego.

TAGS: budget, municipal government, oswego, pensions, property taxes

Indignation, action needed on Illinois’ jobs crisis

By Austin Berg

08/31/2017

Until Illinois lawmakers get serious about economic growth, don’t expect the state’s jobs trend to get off the depressing path it’s been treading for years.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois General Assembly, jobs, property taxes, unemployment, workers compensation

Rauner signs school funding plan, tax credit scholarships into law

By Austin Berg

08/31/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a school funding reform bill containing Illinois’ first-ever tax credit scholarship program.

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

Chicagoans: Brace for yet another tax hike

By John Klingner

08/31/2017

A new property tax hike worth as much as $148 million is set to hit Chicagoans as part of the latest school funding proposal. That’s on top of the record-breaking property tax hikes Mayor Rahm Emanuel approved in 2015 and a litany of other city and county taxes and fees.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, taxes

Government consolidation gains momentum, but there’s more to be done

By Mindy Ruckman

08/18/2017

Illinois is taking small steps toward consolidating some of its duplicitous local governments, but bold reforms are needed to start addressing the state’s nearly 7,000 taxing bodies, the most in the nation.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes

Rauner signs local government consolidation bill

By Brendan Bakala

08/16/2017

Senate Bill 3 marks an important step in the right direction for local government consolidation, but there’s more to be done.

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

Former Cook County assessor’s office employee pleads guilty in bribery scheme

By Brendan Bakala

08/07/2017

Unfortunately, exchanging money for lower property tax bills is nothing new at the Cook County assessor’s office.

TAGS: Cook County, Joe Berrios, property taxes

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

By Austin Berg

07/27/2017

Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Frank Mautino, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick