Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

By Orphe Divounguy, Austin Berg, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

01/22/2018

Illinois' jobs growth trailed that of the nation during the first half of 2017, then slowed to a halt in the wake of the General Assembly's record-breaking tax hike.

TAGS: income tax, jobs, property taxes, taxes, unemployment

80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

By Amy Korte, Marianna Schmiesing

07/31/2017

The number of Cook County municipalities that have opted out of both ordinances has climbed to 107.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

By Amy Korte

06/26/2017

Municipal leaders have expressed concerns about the anti-competitive, job-killing effects of Cook County’s minimum wage increases and new sick leave law and are using home rule authority to exempt their communities from the requirements.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment

Nearly 1,700 Illinois workers hit with layoffs, hundreds in manufacturing

By Austin Berg

03/07/2016

Illinois’ manufacturing meltdown and weak jobs growth are pummeling workers.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing

Taxing bodies powerless to stop Schaumburg TIF, property tax increases

By Brian Costin

10/31/2013

Village officials in Schaumburg are pushing for $512 million in new property taxes via a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, district. The taxes would be used to create an entertainment district north of Woodfield Mall. But it’s not just people who pay property taxes in Schaumburg who would foot the bill. TIF districts cause property...

TAGS: Schaumburg, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois’ pension liability more than doubles under Moody’s new accounting rules

By Ted Dabrowski

03/31/2013

Moodys is set to require states and local governments to use more transparent and realistic accounting rules when they report their true pension obligations. And that means Illinois debt and underfunding numbers will skyrocket.

Institute in New York Times: Corporate Giants Received TIF Money

01/31/2011

The Institute's Director of Government Reform, Kate Piercy, was quoted in a New York Times story about the use of TIF districts in Chicago.

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

07/28/2010

by Brian Costin An 6-month follow up audit of the Schaumburg Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed that still only 4 of 18 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines. The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6...

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

By Brian Costin

07/28/2010

An 6-month follow up audit of the Schaumburg Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed that still only 4 of 18 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines. The “Local Transparency Project”, a project of the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, consists of two separate transparency audits 6 weeks apart...

13 NW Cook Agencies Don’t Meet Transparency Standards, District 54 Gets “A”

03/29/2010

An audit of the Schaumburg Township area in Northwestern Cook County revealed only 4 of 17 local government agencies graded received a passing grade on basic online transparency guidelines.

Elk Grove Village

Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

Nearly 1,700 Illinois workers hit with layoffs, hundreds in manufacturing

Taxing bodies powerless to stop Schaumburg TIF, property tax increases

Illinois’ pension liability more than doubles under Moody’s new accounting rules

Institute in New York Times: Corporate Giants Received TIF Money

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

Schaumburg Township Area Transparency Results, 4 of 18 receive passing grades

13 NW Cook Agencies Don’t Meet Transparency Standards, District 54 Gets “A”

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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