by Wesley Fox In the last few years, the federal government and many state governments have used a similar approach to dealing with the economic downturn: higher taxes and more government spending.  Governor Quinn’s proposed tax hikes and his $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now capital spending program are a perfect example. Meanwhile, Chicago Park District...

by Ashley Muchow One week of cost cutting suggestions down, another to go.  Daley has provided further information on how, and what, he plans to do to narrow the city’s $655 million budget deficit.  Daley proposed today the city of Chicago cut costs by consolidating a handful of city departments. The Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Office...

by Heather Wilhelm It sure is getting expensive to be broke these days, and Illinois is learning the hard way, according to the Civic Federation’s latest study.  The Chicago Sun-Times reports: The state’s miserable bond rating has driven up borrowing costs for state government by more than $500 million since last year, a government watchdog...

by Brian Costin A recent Chicago Reader article highlights confusion among Chicago’s restaurants in regards to the recent Cook County sales tax reduction, and a myriad of different taxing districts within the city. Every retail establishment in Chicago must collect and turn over to the Illinois Department of Revenue a 9.75 percent “retailers’ occupation tax”—or sales tax. This...