Cost of Illinois’ education bureaucracy crowds out classroom spending

By Adam Schuster

08/20/2019

More than 9,000 Illinois school district administrators earn more than $100,000 a year. Each of them will collect at least $3 million in pension benefits during retirement.

TAGS: education, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Rita Mayfield, school district consolidation, school district efficiency

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/04/2019

Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the second-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...

Chicago Teachers Union president threatens strike

07/22/2019

The Chicago Teachers Union is threatening to strike, as negotiations with the city begin to stretch into the coming school year. It would be the union’s third strike in seven years.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Jesse Sharkey, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, teacher salaries

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

By Bill Reveille

06/17/2019

Persistent budget deficits, enormous and growing pension obligations, a high debt burden and labor contract negotiations all await Lori Lightfoot as she settles into office.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities

05/18/2019

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $119,110 worth of unfunded state, city, county and other local government debt. Many of the pensions driving those debts become Lori Lightfoot’s problem on Monday.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Illinois House passes bill making it easier for Chicago teachers to strike

By Mailee Smith

04/03/2019

Two of the nation’s largest government union strikes in the past decade happened in Illinois – both by the Chicago Teachers Union. And now a bill in the General Assembly would give Chicago teachers more chances to go on strike.

TAGS: Chicago, collective bargaining, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike, unions

Chicago mayoral term limits small step closer to reality

09/05/2018

A group led by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is one step closer to getting a binding referendum question on the November ballot that would place term limits on the mayor of Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, mayor, Pat Quinn, Rahm Emanuel, term limits

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2018

Reforming future benefit growth via a constitutional amendment is the only way to ensure the retirement security of government workers, protect taxpayer budgets and fulfill the needs of Illinoisans reliant on core services.

Hundreds of educators stop paying money to Chicago Teachers Union following Janus decision

By Mailee Smith

08/23/2018

At least 300 Chicago Public Schools employees have stopped paying fees to the Chicago Teachers Union after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they could not be forced to pay the union just to keep their jobs.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

By Chris Lentino

07/26/2018

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts controlled by the mayor, nearly half of which are located in affluent neighborhoods.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, Cook County, John F. Curran, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, William Davis

Chicago Public Schools

Cost of Illinois’ education bureaucracy crowds out classroom spending

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

Chicago Teachers Union president threatens strike

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities

Illinois House passes bill making it easier for Chicago teachers to strike

Chicago mayoral term limits small step closer to reality

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

Hundreds of educators stop paying money to Chicago Teachers Union following Janus decision

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

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

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