Busting the myth that Chicago taxes are low

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/15/2015

An analysis of Chicago’s taxation and revenue in perspective

Bloomington and other Illinois cities should welcome ridesharing

03/02/2015

There’s no good reason for Bloomington's government to stand between drivers who want to offer this service and would-be customers who want to take advantage of it.

TAGS: Lyft, rideshare, Uber

86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

By David Giuliani

02/06/2015

House Speaker Mike Madigan received more than $1.1 million since 2002 from the state’s five major public unions.

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

02/04/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner's State of the State Address. February 4, 2015

7 of 10 Illinois metro areas are not recovering at all

By Michael Lucci

11/03/2014

Unemployment rates fell for most of Illinois’ metropolitan statistical areas in September, according to a press release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, seven out of 10 Illinois metro areas are not showing any signs of an economic recovery when it comes to putting people back to work. Champaign, Chicago and Springfield are showing...

TAGS: Chicago, jobs

Outside money pours into communities to pass sales-tax hikes

By illinoispolicy

10/29/2014

The public school district in Jacksonville, Illinois, is criticizing fellow Illinoisans for educating residents about a significant sales-tax increase proposal on the ballot – a tax increase that would drive up the cost of gas, clothes, prepared food, electronics and more. School district officials called the Illinois Policy Institute a “Chicago based” group, when we’re...

Workforce shrinks in 9 of 10 metro areas

By Michael Lucci

10/02/2014

Though unemployment rates fell in August for Illinois’ major metropolitan areas, 19,000 workers dropped out of the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of these dropouts, the workforce shrank in every metropolitan statistical area, or MSA, except Champaign-Urbana. Workforce dropouts drive down the unemployment rate because unemployed workers who leave the workforce...

TAGS: employment

Openthebooks.com examines soaring school district spending in IL

By Brian Costin

09/06/2014

Illinoisans’ average property tax rates as a percentage of home value have soared to 2.28 percent in 2012 from 1.93 percent in 2010. This is the second highest rate in the nation. Many Illinois residents are asking why their taxes are so high, and are curious as to where all this is money going. One organization,...

TAGS: education, good government, transparency

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin

09/05/2014

At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Illinois’ largest cities show wide disparity in online transparency, Chicago fails

By Brian Costin

12/19/2013

A new report looking at the state’s 25 largest municipalities shows a wide disparity in citizens’ access to basic government information online from community to community. In places such as Evanston, Skokie and Orland Park, citizens have excellent access to basic financial and participatory information online, but the same isn’t true in many other areas....

TAGS: good government, transparency

Champaign

Busting the myth that Chicago taxes are low

Bloomington and other Illinois cities should welcome ridesharing

86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

7 of 10 Illinois metro areas are not recovering at all

Outside money pours into communities to pass sales-tax hikes

Workforce shrinks in 9 of 10 metro areas

Openthebooks.com examines soaring school district spending in IL

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

Illinois’ largest cities show wide disparity in online transparency, Chicago fails

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

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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