Chicago Teachers Union contract bumps average teacher from $86K to over $114K

By Bryce Hill

04/11/2025

The average Chicago Public Schools teacher will see their salary increase to more than $114,000 by the 2027-2028 school year. Just the raises will cost Chicagoans up to $1.25 billion.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, property taxes

Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

03/27/2025

Typical property tax bill increased 78% on a Cook County residence since 2007. Median property values only rose 7.3%. That leaves residents paying $2,558 more a year in property taxes while their biggest investment fails to keep up with inflation.

TAGS: property taxes

Chicago area gets over 96K international migrants in 2024; 238K since 2020

By Bryce Hill

03/12/2025

Chicagoland’s population has been boosted by international migrants in recent years. But 347,000 residents left for other states since April 2020.

TAGS: outmigration, population, property taxes

How to vote in your April 1 election

By Dylan Sharkey

03/11/2025

Groceries, schools and public safety are all affected by local elections taking place April 1. Here’s what to know.

TAGS: Election Day, Illinois voting, property taxes

Illinois property taxes No. 2, double national average in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

03/01/2025

Illinois families will pay the second-highest property tax rate in the nation in 2025, spending more than double what the average American family will spend to stay in the same home. That’s driving Illinoisans away.

TAGS: property taxes

Unfunded mandates keep property taxes high

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

When local governments must comply with a new state law, it often increases costs. Those costs are passed on to the taxpayer.

TAGS: property taxes, unfunded mandates

Digital licenses, shampoo bottles, $15 wage: Illinois’ new laws for 2025

By Dylan Sharkey

01/01/2025

New Years’ Day means hundreds of new laws on the books, including one allowing residents to get a digital version of their driver’s license.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, pensions, property taxes

Southwest suburban Cook County voters to take up pension reform, key state issues

By Dylan Sharkey

12/27/2024

Voters in Lemont Township are taking up the pension crisis, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates. The township voted to put three questions on the April 1 ballot to let state leaders know they expect progress on the issues.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes

Chicago mayor gets budget without his $300M in property tax hikes

By Ravi Mishra, LyLena Estabine

12/17/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was denied a $300 million property tax hike, then a $150 million property tax hike, then a $68.5 million property tax hike. He got his 2025 city budget, and aldermen forced him to keep his campaign pledge not to raise property taxes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, property taxes

Nearly $50K property tax bills robs ‘Home Alone’ house

By Patrick Andriesen

12/13/2024

The current owners of Kevin McCallister’s house from the “Home Alone” movie will pay nearly $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay more than twice as much as the typical American in property taxes.

TAGS: property taxes