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.
Rockford suffers worst month of job loss in nation
Eight of 13 Illinois-based metro areas lost jobs in April.
Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs
Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.
Lawmakers seek to place nation’s first job-killing amendment in Illinois Constitution
A proposal in the Illinois General Assembly would prohibit right-to-work laws in Illinois, making Illinois the only state in the nation to ban the policy in a state constitution.
Seal-Rite Door exits Rockford for Wisconsin
Seal-Rite’s doors are hardly the first to close in Illinois and reopen in the Badger State.
Pension costs ravaging Rockford’s budget as leaders consider police and fire cuts
Rising pension costs in Illinois’ fifth-largest city are pushing Rockford near the edge of a fiscal cliff – a fate that officials are looking to reverse with a series of steep public service cuts.
In a shrinking state, Census sheds light on struggling cities
When people can’t find good job opportunities in Illinois, they are too often forced to leave. And to take their place, too few have enough confidence in the state to move in from elsewhere and build a future.
Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017
In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.
Illinois’ metro areas shed 3,600 jobs in March
Seven metro areas across the state lost jobs over the month.
Rockford receives credit downgrade as pension debt grows
As pension debt mounts, Moody’s Investors Services has downgraded the city of Rockford to an A2 rating.