Pritzker’s record: He added $300 million last year to Chicago pension woes

By Adam Gorcyca

08/14/2026

The governor signed a sweetener for city police and firefighters that’s estimated to add over $11 billion in accrued liabilities by 2055.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Johnson’s relocation fee threatens affordable rentals

By LyLena Estabine

08/05/2026

A proposed ordinance would force landlords to pay tenants thousands to end a lease. The mandate risks higher rents and fewer affordable units.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Chicago’s high sales taxes about to increase to No. 1 in nation

By Ravi Mishra

11/11/2025

Chicago-area sales taxes were already No. 2 in the U.S., but new taxing authority handed to the Regional Transportation Authority will raise them to No. 1.

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

09/22/2025

Not enough revenue? How about too much spending. Chicago outpaces many of America’s biggest cities with a 62% spending spike since 2019. That’s what’s driving deficits.

Peoria Heights mayor vetoes grocery tax as Chicago considers it

By Brad Weisenstein

09/16/2025

Peoria Heights’ mayor vetoed a grocery tax, saying the village would not balance its budget on the backs of families at the grocery checkout. Now Chicago is considering taking $73.5 million through the tax.

TAGS: Chicago, grocery tax, taxes

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

By LyLena Estabine

09/09/2025

Chicago’s pension systems carry over $53 billion in debt, leaving taxpayers with rising bills and no reform in sight.

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

By Ravi Mishra

08/11/2025

A $1.12 billion budget gap spurs Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to circulate a menu of 26 tax hikes. Instead of making Chicago even more hostile to taxpayers, he should be looking at budget reforms and ways to stop spending so much.

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

By Jerry Barmore

08/07/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a chance to stop a bill putting taxpayers on the hook for $11.1 billion in inflated pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters. He blew it. Taxpayers will be paying the price for decades.

TAGS: Chicago, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

By Ravi Mishra

08/05/2025

As Chicago faces a major deficit for fiscal year 2026, Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering resurrecting a failed idea that punishes job creation: the corporate head tax.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, head tax

Brandon Johnson

Pritzker’s record: He added $300 million last year to Chicago pension woes

Johnson’s relocation fee threatens affordable rentals

Chicago’s high sales taxes about to increase to No. 1 in nation

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

Peoria Heights mayor vetoes grocery tax as Chicago considers it

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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