Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/12/2015

A new report by Moody’s Investors Service details Chicago’s weak economic growth and increasing government-worker pension obligations.

Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails

By Jeffrey Schwab

11/11/2015

The Chicago Teachers Union cannot legally strike before completing several procedural steps, which would take four months following failed mediation with Chicago Public Schools; however, the union could flout the law and strike sooner in the hope of pressuring Chicago Public Schools to reach a deal quickly.

TAGS: strike

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/06/2015

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

11/04/2015

October saw a former Chicago Public Schools CEO plead guilty to wire fraud and several other instances of criminal charges and civil lawsuits against public officials, as well as crony deals between businesses and government.

TAGS: corruption

Chicago passes largest property-tax hike in modern city history

By Austin Berg

10/28/2015

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and city aldermen choose tax hikes over necessary reform.

TAGS: Chicago

Rauner speaks out on the fallacy of ‘extreme’ reforms

By Heather Weiner

10/09/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner calls on Illinois lawmakers to save costs for the state by enacting collective-bargaining reforms for its government-worker unions.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Mike Madigan

CPS pensions: From retirement security to political slush fund

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/06/2015

CPS leaders have brought the teachers’ pension fund to the brink of insolvency. Now they’re counting on taxpayers to clean up the mess.

Chicago tax collector hath arrived with massive tax hike

10/01/2015

Emanuel says, ‘we haven’t left any stone unturned ... not done yet’

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax

Rahm’s budget plan phases in $2.5 billion in new taxes and fees over 4 years

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/22/2015

Too bad it doesn’t solve any real problems.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax

Rahm calls for largest property tax hike in modern Chicago history

By Ted Dabrowski

09/21/2015

Chicagoans know new revenues won’t be used to pay for better roads, classrooms or public safety – these tax hikes won’t even fix what’s ailing the city’s bottom line.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, ecigs, fees, Lyft, outmigration, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, rideshare, Uber

Chicago Public Schools

Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth

Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

Chicago passes largest property-tax hike in modern city history

Rauner speaks out on the fallacy of ‘extreme’ reforms

CPS pensions: From retirement security to political slush fund

Chicago tax collector hath arrived with massive tax hike

Rahm’s budget plan phases in $2.5 billion in new taxes and fees over 4 years

Rahm calls for largest property tax hike in modern Chicago history

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