Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper

By LyLena Estabine

02/04/2026

Illinois lawmakers propose a Tier 2 pension expansion that adds costly sweeteners, despite struggling to keep up with current obligations.

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

01/13/2026

Causes, costs, how to set the state free

Exclude staff costs, Chicago spending still spiked $3.6B in just 6 years

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

12/10/2024

Chicago’s 2025 budget is facing a nearly $1 billion gap. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to close it: increase taxes. The city’s rising non-personnel costs, now at $6.6 billion, will outpace its grant funding, squeeze taxpayers and increase regressive fees.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform

By LyLena Estabine

11/14/2024

Illinois is at risk of getting in costly trouble with the federal government over its Tier 2 public employee retirement benefits. Here’s a solution that doesn’t make the state’s monstrous public pension debt even worse.

Chicago City Council considers 16 new tax and fee hikes

By Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2024

Chicago Ald. Will Hall, 6th ward, proposed 16 new tax and fee hikes to fellow city council members in a survey.

TAGS: taxes

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

By Bryce Hill

09/26/2023

Published Sept. 26, 2023 America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare...

Illinoisans see $2,200 pay cut thanks to inflation

By Bryce Hill

05/31/2022

Wages rose in Illinois, but inflation rose even more. That left the average worker almost $2,200 worse off.

TAGS: Illinois, inflation

Valentine’s Day gets pricier for Illinois couples in 2022

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2022

Couples’ wallets won’t feel the love this holiday as inflation soars and Illinois taxes kill the mood. Here’s how much extra a little romance will cost this Valentine’s Day.

TAGS: Illinois, Valentine's Day

Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade

By Orphe Divounguy

02/03/2022

Chicago property taxpayers face a nearly 5% hike this year after a decade in which their bills nearly doubled. The city failed to capitalize on the COVID-19 stimulus windfall like others did.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes

Rauner vetoes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers statewide

By Eddie Damstra

08/27/2018

Dictating teachers’ salaries from Springfield would impose a costly mandate on local school districts and expose struggling homeowners across the state to property tax hikes.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, salaries, school district consolidation, teacher salaries

Consumer price index

Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Exclude staff costs, Chicago spending still spiked $3.6B in just 6 years

Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform

Chicago City Council considers 16 new tax and fee hikes

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

Illinoisans see $2,200 pay cut thanks to inflation

Valentine’s Day gets pricier for Illinois couples in 2022

Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade

Rauner vetoes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers statewide

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