Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

By LyLena Estabine

10/27/2025

While Aurora sits near the top of the safety rankings, Chicago lands near the bottom undermining claims by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

TAGS: crime

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

By Bryce Hill

10/24/2025

Chicago Tax Increment Finance “surpluses” have increased more than ninefold in the past decade.

TAGS: Chicago, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Budget cap could have saved Chicago $600M

By Geoff Feinstein

10/24/2025

Chicago’s budget has grown much faster than inflation, leaving taxpayers to endure higher costs without receiving better services. Implementing a spending cap linked to inflation could have kept costs under control, helping prevent future deficits

Using Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT will cost more under Johnson’s Cloud Tax

By Jerry Barmore, Dylan Sharkey

10/22/2025

Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT, Amazon Web Services and Zoom would all come with higher prices under Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s cloud tax.

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

By Lauren Zuar, Ravi Mishra

10/21/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson describes the 2026 budget as “Protecting Chicago,” but his plan seems to do the opposite. Taxes on Artificial Intelligence, Uber rides and companies with 100+ employees are the biggest revenue sources.

Pritzker absolutely opposed to Johnson’s Chicago corporate “head tax”

By Patrick Andriesen

10/21/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told the Chicago Economic Club Oct. 21 that he absolutely opposes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to revive the corporate “head tax” as part of his new budget proposal.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes $21 per employee corporate “head tax”

By Patrick Andriesen

10/17/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed a $21-per-employee monthly tax on large companies to help fill a nearly $1.2 billion shortfall. Business leaders and even a former mayor say the “head tax” could kill job creation and new investment.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget targets social media, corporate “head tax”

By Dylan Sharkey

10/16/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal includes a per-user tax on social media companies and a per-employee fee on businesses. The proposal does not include a property tax hike and supports the elimination of the grocery tax.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

By Patrick Andriesen

10/13/2025

Chicago’s 2025 budget needed $345 million in fines, forfeitures and penalties. It was $99 million 30 years ago. What will the new budget extract from residents?

TAGS: budget, Chicago

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

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

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.

Brandon Johnson

Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

Budget cap could have saved Chicago $600M

Using Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT will cost more under Johnson’s Cloud Tax

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

Pritzker absolutely opposed to Johnson’s Chicago corporate “head tax”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes $21 per employee corporate “head tax”

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget targets social media, corporate “head tax”

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

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

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