Illinois lawmakers push retirement tax to keep spending more

By Ravi Mishra

12/04/2025

As state lawmakers look to plug budget holes by removing limits on state income tax rates, Illinois’ spending is set to continue breaking records.

TAGS: retirement tax

$1 million a day X 600 years to fill Illinois pension hole

By LyLena Estabine

12/02/2025

Illinois has the highest pension debt per capita. Even if the state spent an extra $1 million a day, your distant descendants would still be paying in 2600.

Harvey declaring financial distress under $164M debt

By LyLena Estabine

10/21/2025

Harvey is seeking state aid under Illinois’ Financially Distressed City Law, but without pension reform, state oversight offers little hope to fix its $164M crisis.

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

By Patrick Andriesen

10/13/2025

Chicago’s 2025 budget needed $345 million in fines, forfeitures and penalties. It was $99 million 30 years ago. What will the new budget extract from residents?

TAGS: budget, Chicago

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

By LyLena Estabine

10/08/2025

If Chicago’s pension systems become insolvent, the city will have to reduce benefits or make serious cuts to city services. The only way out is constitutional reform.

Illinois taxpayers each owe $38,800 for state’s unpaid bills

By Patrick Andriesen

10/03/2025

Illinois taxpayers in 2024 owed an average of $38,800 each, ranking No. 3 in the U.S. Illinois earned an “F” for fiscal management.

Other major cities provide a roadmap for Chicago’s Inaugural City Charter Commission

By Joe Tabor, Rich Witzel

08/22/2025

The City of Chicago needs a city charter that will bring some certainty to city government. It should learn from the experiences of other cities when choosing the people who will draft that charter.

Illinois lawmakers churn through 31K pages of bills on last day of session

By Lilly Rossi

08/13/2025

Illinois General Assembly members filed 31,011 pages of amendments to bills in the last 24 hours of the 2025 regular session. Truly understanding what they were deciding would require reading 22 pages per minute.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

08/12/2025

Despite leading the region in businesses applying to open, Illinois’ combative business climate results in few business actually starting.

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Constitution of Illinois

Illinois lawmakers push retirement tax to keep spending more

$1 million a day X 600 years to fill Illinois pension hole

Harvey declaring financial distress under $164M debt

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

Illinois taxpayers each owe $38,800 for state’s unpaid bills

Other major cities provide a roadmap for Chicago’s Inaugural City Charter Commission

Illinois lawmakers churn through 31K pages of bills on last day of session

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

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