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

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin

09/05/2014

At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Madigan’s money: AFSCME spending trail reveals extensive and hidden political activity

Report Archive

Harry Jackson

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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