Pensions in Quincy cost 126% of municipal property taxes

By Adam Schuster, Justin Carlson

09/24/2021

Quincy property taxes do not generate enough to fund the municipal pension costs. Even with that heavy burden, there is so much state and local pension debt that the average Quincy household owns more than $35,600.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Quincy

Over 90% of Rock Island municipal property taxes taken by public pensions

By Adam Schuster, Robert Brutvan, Perry Zhao

09/22/2021

Despite so much of the property tax share going to public pensions, there is still a huge unmet pension debt. The average Rock Island household owes nearly $40,000 to state and local pensions.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Rock Island

Chicago average property taxes up $72 to $180, driven by pension debt

By Dylan Sharkey

09/21/2021

Chicago homeowners are likely to see average property tax bills rise between $72 and $180 based on the city’s new budget. Higher taxes are driven by $47 billion in pension debt, but pension reform can change that.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, property taxes

Over 100% of Danville municipal property taxes consumed by pensions

By Adam Schuster, Perry Zhao

09/20/2021

The average Danville household owns nearly $40,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: Danville, pensions, property taxes

Rockford sees public pensions eat nearly 40% of municipal property taxes

By Adam Schuster

09/16/2021

Public pensions are growing and taking a greater share of property taxes, hurting public services. Still, the average Rockford household owes over $35,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Rockford

Nearly two-thirds of Peoria property taxes consumed by pensions

By Adam Schuster

09/15/2021

The average Peoria household owns nearly $38,000 in state and local pension debt.

TAGS: pensions, Peoria, property taxes

The problem with property taxes in the Chicago suburbs

By Hilary Gowins

09/08/2021

Property taxes keep going up, but services aren’t improving. Paying more and getting less is a trend that residents want to see reversed.

TAGS: Lake County, pensions, property taxes

Suburban residents risk losing homes over rising pension costs

By Amy Korte

09/01/2021

Because the cost of generous government retirement packages has grown faster than existing government revenues can sustain, property taxes continue to climb.

TAGS: collar counties, Illinois, pensions, property taxes

Pritzker wants local governments to use COVID-19 money for property tax relief

By Noah Shaar

08/20/2021

With billions in federal COVID-19 relief earmarked for Illinois schools and local government, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushed them to use the money to lower or freeze property taxes. He made no mention of the state’s role in pushing property taxes to the second-highest in the U.S.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, property taxes

Citizenship 101: How to be a more involved Illinoisan

By Brad Weisenstein

08/01/2021

What you need to know to better get answers about what local and state government leaders are doing in Illinois.

TAGS: budget, corruption, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, government services, government spending, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income tax, Open Meetings Act, property taxes, taxes