Poll: High taxes No. 1 reason Illinoisans consider leaving state

By Joe Barnas

09/27/2018

Over half of survey respondents have considered leaving Illinois, citing dysfunctional government, disappointing job opportunities and – above all – high taxes.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, spending cap, taxes

Illinois’ income growth second-worst in the nation

By Vincent Caruso

09/14/2018

Amid two record-breaking income tax hikes, growing property tax bills and population decline, the Land of Lincoln’s income growth is trailing the rest of the nation.

TAGS: income, income tax, personal income, pew research, Spending, spending cap, taxes

State of Illinois confirms new budget is out of balance by $1.2B

By Adam Schuster

08/21/2018

Despite claims from some state lawmakers that the fiscal year 2019 budget is balanced, official reports to bond buyers admit a deficit of more than $1 billion.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, credit rating, GOMB, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, spending cap

Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/20/2018

Illinois added 18,100 new jobs in June, the highest monthly increase since summer 2017, but the Prairie State still lags behind the rest of the nation for the post-recession period.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, credit rating, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, income tax, jobs, spending cap, taxes, unemployment

Failure: On the anniversary of Illinois’ 2017 tax hike

By Adam Schuster

07/03/2018

One year after a record-setting tax hike the state still can’t balance a budget, has done nothing to solve long-term fiscal problems and has further damaged its economic growth.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, income tax, jobs, Mike Madigan, spending cap, taxes

Illinois’ rainy day fund would cover only 81 seconds of state spending

By Joe Barnas

06/25/2018

The Land of Lincoln's meager rainy day fund would leave the state exposed in the event of another recession.

TAGS: budget, Spending, spending cap

Rauner signs spending plan into law

By Adam Schuster

06/04/2018

While it’s the closest the state has come to passing a balanced budget in years, Illinois’ new spending plan leaves a lot to be desired for taxpayers.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, Spending, spending cap

Shrinking communities bode ill for Illinois’ economy

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

05/30/2018

More than three-quarters Illinois communities lost population over the year, and nearly all of the state’s major metro areas are lagging the nation on key economic indicators.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, employment, income tax, labor force participation rate, outmigration, personal income, population, progressive income tax, spending cap, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017

By Austin Berg

05/23/2018

In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.

TAGS: Belleville, Chicago, decatur, jobs, Metro East, outmigration, peoria, population, rockford, Spending, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau

As budget deadline looms, Illinois lawmakers push bill aimed at carnival workers

By Vincent Caruso

05/22/2018

Springfield is struggling to juggle its priorities, with state lawmakers pressing up against time to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, criminal justice reform, scott bennett, Spending, spending cap