Downers Grove

Under Quinn’s deal with AFSCME, taxpayers still pay 95 percent of retirees’ health insurance costs

By Jonathan Ingram
03/07/2013
For years, retired state government workers have contributed little or nothing toward the cost of their health insurance premiums. This sweetheart deal costs Illinois taxpayers roughly $1 billion a year, with costs continuing to climb year after year. The state’s unfunded liability for retiree health insurance is more than $54 billion. Lawmakers decided to do...

State lawmakers sponsor legislation to match Budget Solutions reforms

By Jane McEnaney
03/04/2013
On Feb. 28, the Illinois Policy Institute held a press conference to publicly release its alternative budget plan, entitled Budget Solutions 2014. This 10-point plan offers responsible solutions to Illinois’ fiscal crisis. State Reps. Tom Morrison, Jeanne Ives, Dwight Kay and state Sen. Kyle McCarter showed their support and attended the press conference. Budget Solutions...

Cronyism runs deep in Illinois

By Benjamin VanMetre
12/27/2012
Imagine an Illinois economy so vibrant that companies felt they had to be in Illinois to reach their fullest potential. Imagine a tax environment so competitive that companies across the country battled to get a piece of Illinois real estate. Keep imagining, because this certainly isn’t a reality. The fact is, Illinois ranks 48th in economic...

TAGS: cronyism

Seven DuPage County-area governments receive high marks in online transparency audit

By Brian Costin
08/02/2012
CHICAGO (Aug. 1, 2012) – In the latest round of online transparency audits conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute, only 13 of 22 local government agencies in the York Township-area in DuPage County received passing grades. In an effort to fight corruption and encourage public participation in government, the Illinois Policy Institute grades governments on...

Has your legislator signed the Repeal the Tax Hike Pledge?

11/01/2011
by Brian Costin Just a few hours before a new legislature was sworn in, on January 12, 2011, at 1:30AM Illinois’s 96th General Assembly passed the largest tax hike in state history, raising the individual income tax rate by 67 percent and the corporate tax rate by 46 percent. The vote passed by a razor thin...

Things you think are treats but really are tricks

10/27/2011
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson This time of year, children go door-to-door dressed in costumes to ask their neighbors for treats. Throughout the year, governments at the federal, state and local level provide services and programs that many look upon as treats. But considering the cost and inefficiency of some of these programs and services, are these...

School District 86 Makes Excuses on Transparency

03/11/2011
by Brian Costin Recently, as part of our Local Transparency Project, we conducted an audit in the Downers Grove area of 16 government agencies for proactive online transparency. One of those agencies was Hinsdale Township High School District 86. They scored only 49.4 out of 100 possible points. It’s disappointing that a public body whose job it is...

Downers Grove, Willowbrook Take Top Scores in Transparency Audit

By Brian Costin
02/10/2011
Feb. 10, 2011 — The Downers Grove Park District and villages of Downers Grove and Willowbrook scored the highest of 16 public agencies recently evaluated in a government transparency audit. The audit was part of the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project and initiated by a local resident. Governments were graded on the availability of information to...
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Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Leaders of these organizations on the South and West sides connect residents to jobs and engage youth to build safer neighborhoods.

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Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016