Illinois has been using its teachers as a piggy bank.

Effective property tax reform must rein in the government costs that drive up taxes.

With an average property tax bill of more than $2,000 a year, Decatur continues to hike taxes on a shrinking population.

Illinois hasn’t had a budget in two years. And it’s been more than 15 years since the state had a balanced budget. But lawmakers – who are currently on a two-week spring break – continue to be paid.

The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget plan would raise the personal income tax rate to at least 4.95 percent with no real reforms to address the state’s skyrocketing debt and unsustainable spending. This proposal comes despite Illinois’ loss of $14 billion in annual income and hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the 2011 income tax hike.