Illinois Senate passes Cullerton budget, out of balance by as much as $1.5B By Adam Schuster 05/30/2018 State senators voted to approve the 1,245-page budget just hours after it was made public. TAGS: budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton
Proposal: Make Illinois property taxes highest in the nation to pay state pension debts By Austin Berg 05/16/2018 A proposal to levy a statewide 1 percent residential property tax would vault Illinoisans’ property tax burden to the highest of all 50 states. TAGS: Federal Reserve, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, taxes
Senate President John Cullerton says Illinois doesn’t need a revenue estimate By Adam Schuster 05/09/2018 Agreeing on how much money one has to spend is a basic first step of budgeting. TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Illinois Constitution, John Cullerton
Lawmakers stand for spending cap in Springfield By Joe Tabor 04/27/2018 A constitutional amendment to impose fiscal discipline on state lawmakers is gaining bipartisan support. TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, Michael Connelly, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton
Round Lake Park’s police pension crisis could result in state intervention By Brendan Bakala 04/20/2018 Under Illinois law, towns that miss required pension contributions risk state intervention. In 2016, Round Lake Park paid less than 40 percent of its required pension contribution. TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes
House bill would shield retirement income from taxation By Vincent Caruso 04/19/2018 A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution would render residents’ retirement earnings off limits for Springfield.
Harvey pension crisis leads to mass layoffs By Adam Schuster 04/11/2018 Police, firemen and other government workers will be laid off to cover pension costs. TAGS: Edgar Ramp, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes
Proposed Belleville budget hikes taxes on residents By Brendan Bakala 04/07/2018 The proposed $100.8 million budget will spend millions on police and fire pensions as well as a 3 percent pay raise for city workers. TAGS: Belleville, fees, property taxes, taxes
Chicago Park District pension reform ruled unconstitutional By Adam Schuster 04/05/2018 The ruling will likely mean higher taxes for Chicagoans. TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Park District, COLA: cost of living adjustment, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes
The painful push for a progressive tax in Illinois By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor 04/04/2018 Instead of pushing for further tax hikes on tapped-out taxpayers, lawmakers should rally behind a bipartisan effort to limit state spending. TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, income tax, progressive income tax, Robert Martwick, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton