Bloomington

Bill to rein in state health care costs killed in the Senate

By Mailee Smith
04/27/2018
Senate Democrats killed a chance this week to rein in government spending, instead siding with government unions that prioritize their own power over the fiscal health of the state. Illinois taxpayers pay nearly $15,000 per state worker in health care costs alone under the most recent contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bill Brady, collective bargaining, health care, state worker pay

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

By Brendan Bakala
10/16/2017
Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

TAGS: Bloomington, consolidation, fees, local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, Naperville, New Lenox, Oswego, pensions, Peoria, property taxes, sales tax, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheaton

Multibillion-dollar tax hikes will only exacerbate Illinois’ weak economic activity

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner
04/13/2017
The latest report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois experienced falling tax collections, indicating trouble in the state economy. Spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

TAGS: budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dan McConchie, Kyle McCarter, Moody's Investor Service

Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner
02/08/2017
A new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois has experienced falling tax collections, which may indicate trouble in the state economy; spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Christine Radogno, corporate income tax, income tax, John Cullerton, Medicaid, pensions, property taxes, sales tax, taxes

Illinois Senate proposes income tax hike in the face of record out-migration and wealth flight

By Michael Lucci
01/20/2017
The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget plan would raise the personal income tax rate to at least 4.95 percent with no real reforms to address the state’s skyrocketing debt and unsustainable spending. This proposal comes despite Illinois’ loss of $14 billion in annual income and hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the 2011 income tax hike.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, income tax, John Cullerton, outmigration, taxes

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Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

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Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016