Doubling Illinois’ gas tax, other tax hikes will go to fund more than $1.4 billion of waste and pork

By Adam Schuster, Bill Reveille, Brian Butler

07/08/2019

Lawmakers sold 20 new taxes and fees as necessary to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and balance the budget. Instead, taxpayers will be funding dog parks, swimming pools, snowmobile paths, a vacant theater and pickleball courts.

TAGS: gas tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pork, taxes, waste

Village of Rosemont spent more than $64 million on entertainment in 3-year span

By Joe Kaiser

10/25/2018

Despite its residents dealing with a high county and state tax burden, the village of Rosemont has spent millions on frivolous entertainment costs in recent years. Taxpayers shelled out $65,000 for pizza joint.

TAGS: budget, Rosemont, Spending, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, waste

Schaumburg village manager rakes in 318% more than area’s median households

By Joe Barnas

10/12/2018

The highest-earning government employee in at least five municipalities far outpaces what typical local taxpayers in those areas bring in.

TAGS: budget, property taxes, schaumburg, taxes, waste

Waste watch: Evanston spent $700K on lobbying and promotions despite budget deficit

By Vincent Caruso

10/11/2018

In an effort to close a $7.4 million shortfall, the city of Evanston’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year includes police and fire cuts along with a string of tax hikes – highlighting the need to trim government waste and push for structural reform in Springfield.

TAGS: budget, evanston, lobbying, property taxes, taxes, waste

Mundelein spends more than $300K on welcome signs

By Vincent Caruso

04/30/2018

The Lake County village will tap into its savings account to help cover the costs.

TAGS: mundelein, municipal pensions, property taxes, waste

Rauner signs law axing golden parachutes at community colleges

By Austin Berg

09/23/2015

The new law ensures public oversight of lucrative contracts, such as the one granted to embattled College of DuPage President Robert Breuder.

TAGS: College of DuPage, higher education, waste

Illinois pays millions in pension benefits to the dead

By Austin Berg

09/14/2015

More than 1,000 dead Illinoisans received pension payments from 2010 to 2014, according to government records.

TAGS: fraud, waste

Rauner signs law shining light on government golden parachutes

By Austin Berg

09/12/2015

The new law is designed to expose severance agreements like the one given to controversial College of DuPage President Robert Breuder.

TAGS: College of DuPage, waste

Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending

By David Giuliani

05/29/2015

The broken state budget proposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan includes spending on wine production, mosquito abatement and a student newspaper.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan, taxes, waste

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

By Brian Costin

11/01/2014

In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...

TAGS: good government, waste

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

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2019 Illinois corruption tracker

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Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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