Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

02/14/2024

Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.

Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency

By Mailee Smith

02/14/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union hasn’t released an annual audit, required by its internal rules, for at least four fiscal years. What’s happening with members’ dues?

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Our perspective: Chicago should use all federal COVID funds before hiking taxes for housing problems

By Hilary Gowins

02/13/2024

Before asking voters to approve a “mansion tax,” why not tap unspent federal pandemic aid dollars to reduce homelessness?

Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members

By Paul Vallas

02/12/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union for decades pushed to elect the school board, but with their former employee in the mayor’s office they rather he choose most of the board for a little while longer.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Mayor Johnson should learn from LA that ‘mansion tax’ is a failure

By Paul Vallas

02/12/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mansion tax idea failed in Los Angeles, something his recent trip there should have shown him. Here’s why it promises to drag down Chicago businesses in an already hostile environment and shift costs to homeowners.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

By Hilary Gowins

02/08/2024

Editor’s note: There is a lot of information coming at you every day, but not a lot of context. The Illinois Policy Institute is launching "Our Perspective" to give you our take on topics of the day so you can better shape your take on them.

TAGS: housing market, real estate

Chicago vote-by-mail begins for Illinois primary, Johnson’s tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey

02/07/2024

Chicagoans will see their March 19 primary ballots in their mailboxes starting Feb. 8. The last question is on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tax hike plan.

TAGS: Chicago, homelessness, tax

Minneapolis’ 4 housing moves can be blueprint for fixing Chicago

By Ravi Mishra

02/05/2024

Chicago’s tight rental market is raising rents and eating larger chunks of residents’ income. But the city can fix that by following Minneapolis’ lead.

Chicago labor unions refuse to back mayor’s ‘mansion tax’

By Jess Plowman

02/05/2024

Fears of what it would do to Chicago’s housing market and economy led a group of Chicago trade unions to refuse to endorse Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to increase a city tax on real estate sales.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Vallas: Chicago needs a public safety act to counter SAFE-T Act

By Paul Vallas

02/01/2024

Chicago's rampant crime is not getting attention from city leaders. It is getting worse thanks to the SAFE-T Act. To fix that, city leaders need their own public safety act. And soon.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Brandon Johnson

Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency

Our perspective: Chicago should use all federal COVID funds before hiking taxes for housing problems

Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members

Vallas: Mayor Johnson should learn from LA that ‘mansion tax’ is a failure

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

Chicago vote-by-mail begins for Illinois primary, Johnson’s tax hike

Minneapolis’ 4 housing moves can be blueprint for fixing Chicago

Chicago labor unions refuse to back mayor’s ‘mansion tax’

Vallas: Chicago needs a public safety act to counter SAFE-T Act

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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