Where have all the new homes gone?

By Austin Berg

06/15/2017

Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.

TAGS: construction, housing, local government, prevailing wage, property taxes, workers compensation

Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country

By Austin Berg

06/02/2017

Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, cell phone tax, Rahm Emanuel, wireless tax

Fact-checking BGA’s claims on ‘low-spending’ Illinois

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/23/2017

While the Better Government Association has claimed Illinois’ budget contains no fat to trim, a deeper analysis reveals the state has many areas of expensive inefficiency to reform in state and local government costs, the Medicaid program and K-12 education.

TAGS: BGA: Better Government Association, budget, education, local government, Medicaid, municipal government, state worker pay, taxes

U-Haul prices reveal high demand to get out of Illinois

By Michael Lucci

05/10/2017

Illinois had a record loss of 114,000 residents to other states in 2016.

TAGS: outmigration, population, uhaul

How Trump’s tax proposals would affect Illinois

By Michael Lucci

05/01/2017

The corporate tax reforms under President Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan could strengthen Illinois’ position as a home for businesses, but the state’s uncompetitive income, property and death tax policies would put its residents at an even greater disadvantage with respect to other states if the president’s plan passes.

TAGS: Chicago, corporate income tax, death tax, Donald Trump, estate tax, income tax, outmigration, population, property taxes, tax credits, taxes

Madigan has spent nearly $170,000 in campaign funds on baseball tickets in 2017

04/19/2017

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan reportedly uses his large quantity of Cubs and White Sox tickets as gifts for his political volunteers, but his history with professional sports teams in Chicago isn’t so generous.

TAGS: Chicago Cubs, Mike Madigan

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

By Brendan Bakala

03/30/2017

On March 29, the Illinois House of Representatives voted almost unanimously in favor of allowing voters to decide on local government consolidation – a crucial component of shrinking local government spending, which drives up property taxes. State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, sponsored House Bill 496, which received bipartisan support – more than a dozen representatives...

TAGS: local government consolidation, townships

84,000 Illinoisans moved to states with no income tax from 2011-2014

By Lea Thoele

02/14/2017

The Land of Lincoln lost almost 84,000 residents and over $6.5 billion in taxable income to the seven states without an income tax while Illinois’ 2011 income tax hike was in effect.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax

By Michael Lucci

02/14/2017

Despite taxing both sales and income, Illinois has higher property taxes than every single state that does not charge an income tax.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, property taxes

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner, John Klingner, Michael Lucci

01/31/2017

A set of structural reforms that protect taxpayers and put Illinois on the path to prosperity.

Florida

Where have all the new homes gone?

Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country

Fact-checking BGA’s claims on ‘low-spending’ Illinois

U-Haul prices reveal high demand to get out of Illinois

How Trump’s tax proposals would affect Illinois

Madigan has spent nearly $170,000 in campaign funds on baseball tickets in 2017

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

84,000 Illinoisans moved to states with no income tax from 2011-2014

Illinois has higher property taxes than every state with no income tax

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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