Illinois General Assembly, 2017 in review: State pet, state grain, but no fixes

01/02/2018

Illinois lawmakers passed hundreds of bills in 2017, but enacted no real reforms to boost the state’s economy, rein in the cost of government or provide relief to taxpayers.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, income tax, property taxes, small business, taxes

School districts across the state raise property tax levies

By Brendan Bakala

12/23/2017

Illinois’ school district debt and unfair government union bargaining laws contribute to the state’s massive property taxes.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, school district consolidation

Christmas wish list: 12 gifts for Illinois taxpayers in 2018

By Vincent Caruso

12/22/2017

After a punishing 2017, Illinoisans are in dire need of reform from Springfield.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, gerrymandering, higher education, income tax, Mike Madigan, pensions, property taxes, term limits, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, unions

Stocking full of coal: Illinois shrinkage poses major problems

By Austin Berg

12/21/2017

The continuing erosion of Illinois’ tax base is the state’s most pressing budget problem.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

What’s dragging down Illinois’ economy?

By Orphe Divounguy

12/20/2017

Illinois would have seen above-average growth if the state’s workforce had simply grown on par with the rest of the U.S. economy. Instead, poor policy choices have made the state an economic laggard. Illinois’ slow expansion is likely a product of investment-killing tax hikes.

TAGS: GDP: gross domestic product, income tax, property taxes, taxes