Springfield area residents pay some of the nation’s highest property tax rates

By Joe Barnas

04/29/2019

A progressive tax won’t stop constant property tax hikes. Pension reform will.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes, Springfield, taxes

Voters want Springfield to shed a little government

By Janelle Cammenga

11/07/2018

Voters said they don’t need a township on top of Springfield city government, but unless Sangamon County leaders act there will be no tax savings.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, Springfield, taxes, townships

Springfield shopping gets pricier after voters OK school sales tax

By Janelle Cammenga

11/07/2018

Voters decided Sangamon County school building improvements were worth boosting Springfield’s sales tax to among the highest in the nation. The 1 percent sales tax hike will take the total to 10.75 percent at some stores.

TAGS: sales tax, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

County referendum would raise Springfield sales tax burden to among nation’s highest

By Janelle Cammenga

09/11/2018

A proposed 1 percent sales tax for school facilities improvements would bring the city of Springfield’s combined sales tax rate to 9.75 percent – among the highest in the nation.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, sales tax, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation

By Joe Kaiser

08/28/2018

A ballot question asking voters whether to eliminate Capital Township could bring savings to Springfield taxpayers – but that would just be one of many steps worth taking to lower Springfield’s high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Sangamon County, Springfield, townships

Retiring as early as age 50, Springfield municipal pensioners bank over $1M

By Joe Kaiser

08/13/2018

Among the 23 former city of Springfield employees who retired at age 50, five have accumulated more than $1 million in pension benefits.

TAGS: IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Springfield

Springfield arena a multimillion-dollar drain on local taxpayers

By Joe Kaiser

06/26/2018

As part of a large and growing property tax bill, Springfield area taxpayers have to bail out the Bank of Springfield Center.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, Springfield, taxes

As city of Springfield sees taxes rise, its population falls

By Joe Kaiser

06/06/2018

With pension debt straining city finances, local politicians have insisted on turning to its declining population for more tax revenue.

TAGS: bonds, credit rating, municipal pensions, outmigration, pensions, population, property taxes, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Illinois’ metro areas shed 3,600 jobs in March

By Bryce Hill

04/30/2018

Seven metro areas across the state lost jobs over the month.

TAGS: Bloomington, Champaign, decatur, Elgin, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, labor force participation rate, peoria, quad cities, rockford, Springfield, unemployment

City of Springfield passes unbalanced budget despite bevy of new tax hikes

By Vincent Caruso

02/23/2018

The city's budget for fiscal year 2019 was accompanied by increases in sales and telecom taxes. But local officials still anticipate a deficit.

TAGS: budget, credit rating, property taxes, sales tax, Springfield

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the third-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...

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Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

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Scott Reboletti

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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