Illinois is tagged with more taxes when the governor had the opportunity to say no.

Illinois lawmakers’ late-night budget sets a new spending record financed by more tax hikes on the final day of legislative session.

Going into this budget cycle, there should be an added urgency for the City Council to build its capacity to play a co-equal role in the budget process and push to adopt more reforms and efficiencies to control spending.

Almost half of those in a new poll named taxes one of the city top-two issues. Concern about the economy is on the rise.