A decade after recession, Illinois’ construction industry is ice cold

By Austin Berg

12/05/2019

Why is Illinois construction so weak? As it turns out, big government programs can’t paper over weak fundamentals.

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, construction, Erin Guthrie, gas tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, minimum wage, outmigration, Pat Quinn, progressive income tax, property taxes, Springfield, U.S. Census Bureau

Chicago’s 2020 budget proposal was never truly balanced

By Adam Schuster, Bill Reveille

11/26/2019

Faced with the impossible task of balancing Chicago’s budget without pension reform, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is forced to partially rely on phantom cuts and revenues.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CAFR: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Chicago City Hall, constitutional amendment, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, deficit, emergency fee, homelessness, housing market, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, interest rates, library, Lori Lightfoot, Lyft, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, real estate, real estate transfer tax, tax hikes, tax increase, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Uber

Lightfoot asks Springfield for progressive ‘exit tax’ on Chicago property sales

By Brad Weisenstein

11/10/2019

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants state lawmakers to let her impose progressively higher real estate transfer tax rates to close a $838 million budget deficit. She faces a limited time window and resistance from state lawmakers.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, outmigration, property taxes, taxes, transaction tax

California’s ‘fair tax’ hike spurred taxpayer exodus, hurt middle class and went mostly to pensions

By Orphe Divounguy

10/28/2019

New academic research on a progressive income tax hike in California should be a warning to Illinois voters deciding on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax hike in November 2020.

TAGS: California, fair tax, graduated income tax, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Kentucky billboards advertise Illinois’ woes to lure businesses

By Brad Weisenstein

10/25/2019

Kentucky’s economic developers are using billboards along Interstate 57 to bring businesses south by highlighting Illinois’ poor finances, high taxes and unwelcoming business climate.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, Kentucky, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, small business, taxes

Lightfoot can’t fix Chicago’s finances without pension reform

By Adam Schuster

10/22/2019

City pension contributions are set to spike by $1 billion over just four years. Taxpayers cannot afford the entire burden of fixing city finances.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Illinois’ housing recovery still trails rest of nation

By Orphe Divounguy

10/22/2019

High property tax bills suppress Illinois housing demand, slowing average growth in home values when compared to the rest of the nation.

TAGS: home values, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Chicago Teachers Union on strike for third time in 7 years

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2019

After rejecting an offer based on recommendations of a neutral third-party report, Illinois’ largest teachers’ union walked out on their students Oct. 17.

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

CTU is out on strike: 6 things you need to know

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2019

The Chicago Teachers Union went on strike despite an offer that would boost average pay to nearly $100,000. Here’s who is getting hurt and the true costs of the strike.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, strike, taxes, teacher salaries

Pension crisis forces firehouse closure, 9 firefighter layoffs in East St. Louis

By Brad Weisenstein

10/16/2019

East St. Louis is short $9.5 million between a budget deficit and back payments owed to its fire and police pensions. As a result, city leaders are closing a firehouse and laying off nine firefighters.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

property taxes

A decade after recession, Illinois’ construction industry is ice cold

Chicago’s 2020 budget proposal was never truly balanced

Lightfoot asks Springfield for progressive ‘exit tax’ on Chicago property sales

California’s ‘fair tax’ hike spurred taxpayer exodus, hurt middle class and went mostly to pensions

Kentucky billboards advertise Illinois’ woes to lure businesses

Lightfoot can’t fix Chicago’s finances without pension reform

Illinois’ housing recovery still trails rest of nation

Chicago Teachers Union on strike for third time in 7 years

CTU is out on strike: 6 things you need to know

Pension crisis forces firehouse closure, 9 firefighter layoffs in East St. Louis

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students