What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/07/2016

Retirement ages, COLAs and out-of-sync pension payouts

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

Illinois gets $2.7M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

By Amy Korte

04/04/2016

Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015; as a result, during the first three months of 2016, the state took in $2.7 million more in fees for late license-plate renewal than it did during the same period in 2015.

TAGS: budget, regulations, transportation

Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders

By Amy Korte

02/26/2016

Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015.

TAGS: vehicle registration

Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes

By Austin Berg

01/05/2016

Absurdly high property taxes demand bold reforms from Illinois lawmakers. New recommendations from a state task force show exactly what kind.

TAGS: local government, property taxes, taxes

5 reasons Illinois government-worker pensions are unfair to taxpayers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

12/09/2015

The outsized benefits received by retired government workers under the State Universities Retirement System and the unfair burden this places on taxpayers demonstrate the urgent need to reform Illinois’ government-worker pensions.

TAGS: SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Illinois bidding out 20,000 cameras for police

By illinoispolicy

11/21/2015

Illinois is taking bids for a supplier to equip 1,000 police officers and another 1,000 patrol cars with mobile cameras.

TAGS: police body cameras

Chicago tax collector hath arrived with massive tax hike

10/01/2015

Emanuel says, ‘we haven’t left any stone unturned ... not done yet’

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax

Illinois’ statewide, unfunded mandates limit school-district budget flexibility

By John Klingner

09/21/2015

It’s time to end Illinois’ practice of mandating spending and curriculum requirements – and give control back to local school districts.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, education, property taxes

Rauner allows Illinois township to eliminate itself

By Hilary Gowins

08/31/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature authorizing Belleville Township to dissolve highlights a flawed process that prevents consolidation in a state that desperately needs it.

Associated Press

What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

Illinois gets $2.7M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders

Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes

5 reasons Illinois government-worker pensions are unfair to taxpayers

Illinois bidding out 20,000 cameras for police

Chicago tax collector hath arrived with massive tax hike

Illinois’ statewide, unfunded mandates limit school-district budget flexibility

Rauner allows Illinois township to eliminate itself

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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