More than half of Illinois counties suffer outmigration By Bryce Hill 03/26/2026 Residents are leaving every corner of Illinois for other states despite surging international migration propping up the total population.
In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions By LyLena Estabine 03/20/2026 Outside Chicago, only a fourth of municipal property taxes collected this year for police and fire are going to services.
Testimony: Scholarship program a ‘remarkable opportunity’ By Josh Bandoch 03/13/2026 Cook County’s commissioners can voice support for education funding to students across the state
Vallas: J.B. Pritzker, Illinois’ affordability champion? By Paul Vallas 03/06/2026 Illinois is one of the least affordable states in the nation. Blame high taxes, public pensions and structural debt. TAGS: JB Pritzker
Chicago property taxes jump — but unevenly By LyLena Estabine 03/05/2026 Some communities saw their bills rise 75% or more.
Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped By LyLena Estabine 02/10/2026 White County joined Rock Island in altering tax sale rules to stop equity theft. The moves are intended to protect them from an unconstitutional state law.
Cook County property tax delays hit Evanston, other schools By LyLena Estabine 01/29/2026 Cook County’s delayed property tax bills are straining school districts with nearly $122 million in unexpected, unneeded costs.
Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash By LyLena Estabine 01/27/2026 Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.
Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage By Paul Vallas 01/27/2026 Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else. TAGS: Toni Preckwinkle
Voters get say on Illinois students benefiting from scholarships By Lilly Rossi, Dylan Sharkey 01/14/2026 Voters in 32 counties get to say whether they think the state should let public and private schoolchildren benefit from donated funds.