A new report analyzes the effects of “tax increment financing” on communities across the nation – and calls into question the merits of the widely used development tool.

Taxpayers across Illinois oppose a progressive tax but many state lawmakers still refuse to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts controlled by the mayor, nearly half of which are located in affluent neighborhoods.

Tax increment financing creates elusive troves of property tax “gold” – by depleting funds from local governments the mechanism intends to serve.

Illinois will not diverge from its path of poor growth until lawmakers realize the failures of recent tax hikes.

Proposed legislation to commemorate former President Barack Obama’s birthday as a state holiday in Illinois would have cost taxpayers nearly $20 million in state personnel expenses and lost productivity.