Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved doubling the state gas tax in 2019 and gave some counties and Chicago the power to hike local gas taxes. Lake County is the latest to consider doing so.

TAGS: gas tax, Lake County

Illinois workers remain idle despite national rebound

By Bryce Hill

07/28/2020

The state and most of its urban areas are failing to get residents back to work at rates matching the national average.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, jobs, unemployment

Pritzker forced to withdraw criminal penalties for small business owners who defy his order

By Brad Weisenstein

05/20/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker rescinded the rule that could have put defiant business owners in jail for up to a year. He first imposed it when his authority to close them during the pandemic was challenged.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, reopen, small business

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

Pritzker signs pension sweetener bill without knowing the cost

By Adam Schuster

12/20/2019

Illinois’ pension crisis is the nation’s worst. Maybe that’s because elected officials take a problem they aren’t sure exists, apply a solution they don’t know will work and never determine the cost.

TAGS: bipartisan, consolidation, constitutional amendment, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, safe harbor, Springfield

Illinois lawmakers pass pension sweeteners without knowing the cost

By Adam Schuster

11/20/2019

Illinois has nation’s worst pension debt. Maybe that’s because state lawmakers take a problem they aren’t sure exists, apply a solution they don’t know will work and never determine the cost.

TAGS: Civic Federation, firefighter pensions, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Jason Barickman, municipal pensions, pensions, police pensions, public safety, safe harbor, Social Security

All Illinois metro areas saw population shrink in 2018

By Bryce Hill

04/17/2019

New Census data reveal that for the first time on record, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, metro areas, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Bloomington creates mandatory business registry, hikes 100 occupational fees

By Janelle Cammenga

10/11/2018

Bloomington City Council approved an ordinance that creates a mandatory business registry with a $50 entrance fee, in addition to hiking 100 permit and licensing fees.

New Bloomington city manager to outearn 49 U.S. governors

07/03/2018

Decatur City’s city manager is on his way to take the same post in Bloomington, and with it a raise that will push his income above 49 of the nation’s 50 governors.

TAGS: Bloomington, budget, Decatur, taxes

Bloomington

Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax

Illinois workers remain idle despite national rebound

Pritzker forced to withdraw criminal penalties for small business owners who defy his order

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

Pritzker signs pension sweetener bill without knowing the cost

Illinois lawmakers pass pension sweeteners without knowing the cost

All Illinois metro areas saw population shrink in 2018

Bloomington creates mandatory business registry, hikes 100 occupational fees

New Bloomington city manager to outearn 49 U.S. governors

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