Illinois township pensioners have collected nearly $300M over past 20 years

08/21/2018

While often regarded as a duplicative and unnecessary unit of government, former township employees in Illinois have banked more than $273 million in pension benefits since 1998.

TAGS: local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, townships

Naperville begins collecting Airbnb tax as similar taxes loom downstate

08/01/2018

As Airbnb begins to remit Naperville’s hotel/motel use tax, some downstate municipalities are considering similar measures.

TAGS: Airbnb, hotel tax, sharing economy, taxes

Owner of ‘Sixteen Candles’ home paid more than $200K in property taxes over past decade

By Chena Underhill

07/25/2018

That’s why they call them taxes. If they were easy, they’d call them something else.

TAGS: outmigration, property taxes

Illinois lawmakers pass bill raising legal age of tobacco, e-cigarette purchases to 21

By Vincent Caruso

05/30/2018

Pending the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.

TAGS: Julie Morrison, regulations, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Carbondale could lead on easing food truck regulations

05/11/2018

Though some of Illinois’ larger municipalities such as Chicago and Evanston have been overly restrictive in regulating food trucks, the Carbondale City Council has debated loosening them for its city, soliciting mixed opinions.

TAGS: Carbondale, food trucks, jobs, regulations

Senate votes to ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

By Vincent Caruso

05/04/2018

Pending the House’s vote and the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.

TAGS: cigarette tax, e-cigarettes, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

The bipartisan bullies of township government

By Austin Berg

04/26/2018

Townships are the cockroaches of governance. They won’t die.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, McHenry County, townships

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

02/02/2018

East St. Louis Township paid $550 to a politician, who had previously spent four years in federal prison for tax evasion, to clear an inch of snow from the township's parking lot - a task he didn't even complete.

TAGS: consolidation, corruption, East St. Louis, local government consolidation, townships

Senate bill would ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

By Vincent Caruso

01/31/2018

The bill would apply Chicago’s restriction on the smoking age to the entire state.

TAGS: Chicago, cigarette tax, e-cigarettes, Julie Morrison, regulations, Tobacco 21

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

By Amanda McDonald

01/15/2018

The village of Lakewood is making encouraging reforms in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: property taxes, taxes

Evanston

Illinois township pensioners have collected nearly $300M over past 20 years

Naperville begins collecting Airbnb tax as similar taxes loom downstate

Owner of ‘Sixteen Candles’ home paid more than $200K in property taxes over past decade

Illinois lawmakers pass bill raising legal age of tobacco, e-cigarette purchases to 21

Carbondale could lead on easing food truck regulations

Senate votes to ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

The bipartisan bullies of township government

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

Senate bill would ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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