Illinois government unions kill chances for more school money, nurse prospects, police reforms

By Joe Tabor

07/07/2021

Unions put up roadblocks for bills that could have freed up more money for Illinois classrooms, expanded opportunities for Illinois health care workers and ensured police officers are subject to better accountability under state law.

TAGS: Nurse Licensure Compact, police misconduct, school district efficiency, unions

Civic Federation finds nearly 9,000 tax-guzzling government units in Illinois

By Justin Carlson

04/19/2021

A recent comprehensive analysis found the real number of government units in Illinois is 30% higher than the U.S. Census Bureau’s count. Too many government units mean too many taxes.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, Illinois, local government consolidation, school district efficiency

Classrooms First Act unanimously passes Illinois House committee

By Brad Weisenstein

03/24/2021

A bill to channel education dollars from duplicate bureaucracy and into classrooms or back to property taxpayers won committee approval. It is headed for a full vote in the Illinois House.

TAGS: administrative bloat, Classrooms First Act, consolidation, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act

By Adam Schuster

03/24/2021

A bill that could reduce property taxes and improve education quality faces a misinformation campaign from school district administrators seeking to preserve wasteful bureaucracy. Here are the facts about the Classrooms First Act.

TAGS: administrative bloat, consolidation, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

Consolidating school districts could cut family’s tax bill by $1,030

03/23/2021

House Bill 7 would create a process to review and recommend consolidating school district administration, with the goal of cutting bureaucracy so the money goes to classrooms or back to taxpayers.

TAGS: administrative bloat, Classrooms First Act, consolidation, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

113 six-figure school district administrators oppose Classrooms First Act

By Patrick Andriesen

03/22/2021

Of the 113 school district administrators earning six-figure salaries who oppose a bill to reduce bureaucracy, 21 are above the $200,000 mark. The bill intends to put more money into classrooms or back in taxpayers’ pockets.

TAGS: administrative bloat, Classrooms First Act, consolidation, property taxes, school district efficiency

Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices

02/05/2021

A bill in the Illinois House would work to consolidate administration of Illinois’ schools without closing schools. The move would put more money in classrooms and take less from property taxpayers.

TAGS: administrative bloat, education bureaucracy, education spending, school district efficiency

Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running

By Brad Weisenstein

03/02/2020

Property taxes in Illinois are nearly double the national average. Until state lawmakers trim down thousands of local governments and pursue pension reform, those bills wills remain high.

TAGS: fair tax, home values, income tax, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, property taxes, school district efficiency

Illinois wastes taxes supporting too many school district bureaucracies

By Adam Schuster

02/25/2020

Illinois could put $708 million more toward classrooms or property tax relief if it reduced school district bureaucracy to national average.

TAGS: administrative bloat, consolidation, education bureaucracy, education spending, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

Illinois K-12 school districts losing students, gaining administrators

By Adam Schuster

08/27/2019

Despite shrinking populations of students and teachers, Illinois school districts have continued to grow their administrative bodies.

TAGS: education, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, school district consolidation, school district efficiency

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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