Illinois slices into family deli’s bottom line

By Ann Miller

07/25/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker added $650 million in taxes and fee hikes for small businesses in his last budget. Voters will decide Nov. 8 if Illinois’ business climate will get tougher, yet, through Amendment 1.

TAGS: Illinois, inflation, small business, tax burden

Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

By Justin Carlson

06/07/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting reports every Chicagoan is on the hook for $135,700 when combining city and state debt.

TAGS: Chicago, tax burden, Truth in Accounting

Illinois’ state, local tax burden highest in Midwest after 2nd-largest increase in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

04/11/2022

The effective state and local tax burden in Illinois has risen from 11.2% in 2019 to 12.9% in 2022. It is now the nation’s seventh highest.

TAGS: Illinois, tax burden

Illinoisans worked 113 days to pay all their taxes, but more may be coming

By Brad Weisenstein

05/17/2021

Tax Day comes with new threats for Illinois taxpayers, who worked longer than residents in 44 other states to pay their taxes this year.

TAGS: Illinois, tax burden, Tax Day

Typical Illinois family will likely see $244 increase in state, local tax burden with ‘fair tax’

By Bryce Hill

10/26/2020

Increased property and sales taxes will likely offset all savings from progressive income tax scheme.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, tax burden

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

By Bryce Hill

08/25/2020

Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000. States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.

TAGS: corruption, economic growth, ethics, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, tax burden

Blame Illinois exodus on jobs, housing, tax policy

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

06/25/2020

Census data shows who is fleeing Illinoisans and why. Here’s why you should care.

TAGS: jobs, outmigration, population, tax burden

Illinois state, local tax burden ranked highest in nation

By Brad Weisenstein

04/14/2020

Illinois residents pay more of their income toward state and local taxes than any other state’s residents. A progressive income tax proposal on the ballot in November would raise the state’s total tax burden by $3.7 billion.

TAGS: outmigration, progressive income tax, tax burden

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t

By Austin Berg

02/28/2020

There’s no doubt: the county taxed soda more, so people bought less of it. It’s a simple lesson. So why doesn’t Springfield get it?

TAGS: Cook County, home price index, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, soda tax, tax burden, Toni Preckwinkle

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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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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