Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen

03/21/2025

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $40,600 in city debt today, the second most among major U.S. cities. Add in the debt Illinois state leaders grew last year, and Chicago taxpayers owe nearly $80,000.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

Each Chicago taxpayer on hook for nearly $42,000 of city debt

By Justin Carlson

02/10/2023

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting found Chicagoans are each responsible for the second-most debt in the nation. It again gave the city an ‘F’ grade despite improvements from one-time federal COVID-19 aid and unusually high pension investment returns.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt

By Patrick Andriesen

02/02/2022

A financial watchdog report estimated each taxpayer in Chicago would need to pay $43,100 to settle the city’s debt. It stands at No. 2 for big U.S. cities. Blame city leaders for repeatedly making pension debt worse.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Lightfoot budget includes automatic property tax hikes, gas tax hike

By Adam Schuster

10/22/2020

A typical Chicago homeowner faces up to $255 in potential property tax increases to cover city and school deficits. City income taxes could be next, if the ‘fair tax’ were to pass.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, property taxes

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

By Vincent Caruso

03/13/2020

Water rationing and forced business closures were among a litany of emergency powers the city council granted Champaign’s mayor and city manager in response to the global health crisis.

TAGS: ban, Champaign, coronavirus, COVID-19, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Chicago rolls out e-scooter pilot program

06/21/2019

Thousands of electric scooters have arrived in Chicago as part of a four-month pilot program.

TAGS: Chicago, e-scooters, scooters, transportation

Chicago ‘tow-and-sell’ operation flips 50K cars, buries drivers in debt

By Vincent Caruso

01/22/2019

Chicago has seized and sold nearly 50,000 impounded vehicles since 2011, hitching drivers to mounting debts, a recent investigation found. The city’s ticketing laws disproportionately harm low-income residents.

TAGS: Chicago, criminal justice reform, overcriminalization, Rahm Emanuel

City

Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Each Chicago taxpayer on hook for nearly $42,000 of city debt

Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt

Lightfoot budget includes automatic property tax hikes, gas tax hike

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

Chicago rolls out e-scooter pilot program

Chicago ‘tow-and-sell’ operation flips 50K cars, buries drivers in debt

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