Illinois House bill seeks to end waste and corruption in infrastructure spending

By Aneesh Bafna

04/30/2021

House Bill 253 would create data-driven process for selecting future infrastructure projects in an attempt to end wasteful and politically motivated spending.

TAGS: Illinois, infrastructure, pork barrel spending, tax hikes, transportation, waste

Pritzker progressive tax campaign wastes over $200K on ads in California, Texas

By Ben Szalinski

09/28/2020

Pushing a $3.7 billion tax hike to people who can’t vote in Illinois is an unusual way to spend some of Pritzker’s $56.5 million donation.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, waste

Transportation spending shows ‘fair tax’ ripe for waste

By Ben Szalinski

09/15/2020

Politicians pledged to rebuild decaying roads and bridges if taxpayers paid just a little bit more, but too often the funds were misused and the promises meant little.

TAGS: fair tax, gas tax, JB Pritzker, waste

Taxpayer tab totals $111.3M to keep Southwestern Illinois airport open

By Brad Weisenstein

08/28/2020

Each year St. Clair County taxpayers must add money to keep MidAmerica St. Louis Airport open. COVID-19 could turn a hefty financial burden into an albatross.

TAGS: MidAmerica Airport, St. Clair County, waste

Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery

By Vincent Caruso

01/27/2020

The former chair of the influential Senate Transportation Committee is the fourth Illinois politician indicted on federal charges amid a sweeping FBI probe.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, conflict of interest, corruption, Ed Burke, embezzlement, ethics, fair maps, fair tax, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal, federal government, federal investigation, fraud, gas tax, graduated income tax, graduation rate, house rules, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, JB Pritzker, Legislative Inspector General, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, Mike Madigan, pork barrel spending, progressive income tax, red light cameras, redistricting, revolving door, SafeSpeed, Senate Transportation Committee, Smart Scale, Springfield, tax fraud, transparency, waste, watchdog

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, 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