Ankle breaker: Dwyane Wade’s property taxes total nearly half home’s value over past 10 years

By Chena Underhill

07/31/2018

Dwyane Wade’s Matteson home has been on the market since May. At its current 5 percent effective property tax rate, the buyer would pay for it again in property taxes within 20 years.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Will County shoppers would pay among nation’s highest sales taxes under referendum proposal

By Vincent Caruso

07/30/2018

A new sales tax proposed by Will County school districts would put some residents’ sales tax burden in a league with Chicago, which is home to the highest combined sales tax rate of any major city in the U.S.

TAGS: sales tax, taxes, Will County

Retired Kane County water district employee has banked $3.5M in pension payments

07/30/2018

Despite serving one of the most overtaxed parts of the state, a retired Kane County-area water district employee has collected millions in pension payouts over the past 20 years.

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

Settlement agreement in Harvey foreshadows pension crisis in Illinois

By Adam Schuster, Joe Tabor

07/30/2018

An agreement to end a dispute between the city of Harvey and two public safety pension funds provides a glimpse at the impending fiscal crises stemming from government pensions across the state.

TAGS: harvey, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, taxes

3 ways Illinois can improve its property tax assessment system

By Vincent Caruso

07/30/2018

The method by which local governments calculate Illinoisans’ property tax bills is broken. Here’s how Springfield can fix it.

TAGS: property taxes, taxes

Belleville spent more than $2.5M on workers’ comp settlements in less than 5 years

By Vincent Caruso

07/29/2018

While a few payouts were the result of severe injuries, local taxpayers were also on the hook for settlements with workers who returned to work the very next day.

TAGS: Belleville, St. Clair County, taxes, workers compensation

15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions

By Eddie Damstra

07/23/2018

In the midst of Chicago’s $36 billion pension crisis, former city officials are seeing big payouts.

TAGS: aldermanic privilege, Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, taxes

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

Chicago, Cook County employees will see more money in their paychecks

By Mailee Smith

07/19/2018

At least 730 Cook County and 646 Chicago employees have been freed from paying forced union fees following the Janus v. AFSCME decision.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, fair share, income tax, Janus v. AFSCME, taxes

Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed

By Adam Schuster

07/19/2018

The 2017 permanent income tax hike took $732 from the median Illinois household, roughly the same as the $737 that will be returned to state workers who were previously forced to pay “fair share” fees to government unions.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, budget, fair share, income tax, Janus v. AFSCME, taxes

taxes

Ankle breaker: Dwyane Wade’s property taxes total nearly half home’s value over past 10 years

Will County shoppers would pay among nation’s highest sales taxes under referendum proposal

Retired Kane County water district employee has banked $3.5M in pension payments

Settlement agreement in Harvey foreshadows pension crisis in Illinois

3 ways Illinois can improve its property tax assessment system

Belleville spent more than $2.5M on workers’ comp settlements in less than 5 years

15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions

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

Chicago, Cook County employees will see more money in their paychecks

Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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