Cutting red tape: Chicago makes progress, but long way to go By LyLena Estabine 04/02/2026 Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Cut the Tape’ initiative has made real gains for housing in its second year. Still, the hardest reforms remain undone.
Tax concern should be a warning to Chicago’s mayor By Todd J. Behme 03/23/2026 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. TAGS: Brandon Johnson
In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions By LyLena Estabine 03/20/2026 Outside Chicago, only a fourth of municipal property taxes collected this year for police and fire are going to services.
Chicago Teachers Union demands ‘no work, no school’ May 1 shutdown By Mailee Smith 03/13/2026 The union wants teachers and students to skip school for rallies and “mass resistance training.” TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash By LyLena Estabine 01/27/2026 Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap By LyLena Estabine 01/13/2026 Causes, costs, how to set the state free
Chicago gets $16.6B budget after mayor refuses to veto By Brad Weisenstein, Ravi Mishra 12/23/2025 Chicago avoided a city shutdown when Mayor Brandon Johnson accepted the alternative budget aldermen passed despite his wishes. TAGS: Chicago, taxes
Chicago adopts $16.6B budget, adds $535M in taxes By Ravi Mishra 12/20/2025 Chicago aldermen for the first time pushed through their own budget, rejecting the mayor’s effort to impose a job-killing head tax. There are other taxes. TAGS: Chicago, taxes
Cook County property taxes funding pensions more than service By LyLena Estabine 12/15/2025 Cook County homeowners face rising property taxes. Three-fourths of that money is going to police and fire pensions instead of services. TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, pensions, property taxes
Report offers $1B in fixes as Chicago budget talks break down By Ravi Mishra 12/12/2025 The Chicago City Council rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s economically harmful tax proposals, but a report offers $1 billion in solutions