Despite high tax bills, Des Plaines City Council buys theater for $1.3M

By Austin Berg

02/26/2018

Local leaders are putting taxpayers on the hook for a development gamble.

Report: Cook County property tax assessment process unfair to poorer homeowners

By Amy Korte

02/16/2018

A new study confirms Cook County's broken property tax assessment system causes owners of lower-value homes to bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

TAGS: Joseph Berrios, property taxes

Tax Olympics: Chicago tops the table on taxes and fees

By Chris Lentino

02/14/2018

In a comparative analysis of taxes and fees in the nation's top 15 cities, Chicago won first place more times than any other city.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, outmigration, population, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax, taxes, wireless tax

When Illinois home values fall, but property taxes don’t

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/12/2018

If an Illinois worker takes a pay cut during a recession, she knows the state isn’t going to take an even bigger chunk out of her paycheck. That’s because the state income tax rate stays the same. But if her home loses value, too, she could still see her property tax bill go up. Government...

Palatine-Schaumburg school board member raises conflict-of-interest concerns

By Brendan Bakala

02/08/2018

A District 211 board member is sitting in on negotiations with the same teachers union that bought her campaign signs during the 2017 District 211 school board election. But much more than yard signs, Illinois' collective bargaining laws for government worker unions stack the deck against local taxpayers.

TAGS: collective bargaining, labor, Palatine, strike

Lawmakers file bills barring state lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

By Vincent Caruso

02/06/2018

A number of state and local lawmakers in Illinois practice property tax appeals litigation. But a pair of bills recently filed in the General Assembly would end their ability to benefit at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Grant Wehrli, Jim Oberweis, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan

By Brendan Bakala

01/24/2018

An order currently under consideration by Chicago City Council challenges the assessments of seven properties, four of which have been the subject of property tax appeals by the law firms of Chicago Alderman Ed Burke or Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider

By Vincent Caruso

01/19/2018

Under the guise of rehabilitating underserved communities, Chicago City Council approved another tax transfer to a private company.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, property taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties

By Brendan Bakala

01/19/2018

Alderman Ricardo Munoz's proposal highlights seven expensive properties in or around the Loop that aldermen contend were underassessed, shifting the property tax burden to other property owners.

TAGS: Chicago, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Rauner announces plan to ban lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

By Austin Berg

01/18/2018

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and state Rep. Robert Martwick are all involved in the clout-heavy cottage industry of property tax appeals.

TAGS: Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Cook County

Despite high tax bills, Des Plaines City Council buys theater for $1.3M

Report: Cook County property tax assessment process unfair to poorer homeowners

Tax Olympics: Chicago tops the table on taxes and fees

When Illinois home values fall, but property taxes don’t

Palatine-Schaumburg school board member raises conflict-of-interest concerns

Lawmakers file bills barring state lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan

Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider

Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties

Rauner announces plan to ban lawmakers from working as property tax lawyers

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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