11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/01/2016

Pension holidays, steep increases in teachers' salaries, and lopsided ratios of teacher contributions to pension payouts have caused the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund’s unfunded liabilities to shoot up to $9 billion in 2015.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, pensions

CPS budget breakdown: Where has the money gone?

By John Klingner, Amy Korte

03/01/2016

Unaffordable salaries and pension benefits on top of a structurally unstable retirement system have pushed CPS to the brink of insolvency despite record tax revenues.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, pensions

Emanuel’s building proposal misses the mark on Chicago zoning reform

By Mark Adams

02/26/2016

While the mayor is right to say that expanding the downtown development area is a “win-win” for developers and poor communities, expanding downtown without the mayor’s proposed new tax on developers and inflexible size restrictions would be a bigger win for both.

TAGS: taxes

Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders

By Amy Korte

02/26/2016

Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015.

TAGS: vehicle registration

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

By Austin Berg

02/24/2016

Chicago is taking yet another black eye for its mishandling of a highly controversial ticketing system, which has slapped drivers with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, red light cameras

Rauner backs plan to eliminate unfunded school mandates

By Mark Fitton

02/20/2016

Unfunded-mandate relief could mean a savings of $200 million annually for Illinois school districts.

TAGS: education

Education labor board to Chicago Teachers Union: No step-and-lane raises

By Ted Dabrowski

02/19/2016

The value of these raises is estimated at $26 million. CTU wanted the education labor board to compel CPS to pay out, even though the district and the union hadn’t agreed to a labor contract.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, step and lane

Obama’s birthday could become next state government holiday

By Mark Fitton

02/17/2016

A bill introduced by state Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago, would make President Barack Obama’s Aug. 4 birthday Illinois’ 13th paid state holiday.

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

02/17/2016

Chicago taxpayers to pay a significant premium and fees in connection with the $725 million Chicago Public Schools borrowed on Feb. 3.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address

By illinoispolicy

02/17/2016

Full transcript of Governor Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address, as prepared for delivery to the General Assembly on Feb. 17, 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner

Chicago

11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

CPS budget breakdown: Where has the money gone?

Emanuel’s building proposal misses the mark on Chicago zoning reform

Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

Rauner backs plan to eliminate unfunded school mandates

Education labor board to Chicago Teachers Union: No step-and-lane raises

Obama’s birthday could become next state government holiday

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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