Watered-down Illinois property tax ‘freeze’ fails to pass House

By Amy Korte

06/29/2017

On June 28 the Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass Senate Bill 484, an illusory property tax freeze that did not offer real reform, left Chicago homeowners out in the cold, and would have left in place an opaque and expensive property tax system that benefits special interests over taxpayers.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, housing, property taxes

Northern Illinois University president to receive $600K severance package amid patronage scandal

By Austin Berg

06/16/2017

Administrative costs at Illinois universities have spun out of control. The latest example comes as the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted to approve a $600,000 golden parachute for President Doug Baker.

TAGS: corruption, Doug Baker, higher education, NIU: Northern Illinois University

In East Aurora, battle over busing is just the tip of the iceberg

By Mailee Smith

05/26/2017

In East Aurora, Illinois, the District 131 school board has approved a proposal to provide bus transportation for students, but the teachers union has balked at a quick implementation of the plan.

TAGS: Aurora, education, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, labor, unions

Kennedy-led company used Madigan’s firm for property tax refunds

By Austin Berg

05/17/2017

Gubernatorial hopeful Chris Kennedy is advocating for “a property tax system that can’t be abused by the wealthy and insiders.” But new documents suggest a Kennedy-led company enlisted the help of the city’s most politically connected property tax law firm to lower its bills.

TAGS: Chicago, Chris Kennedy, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, property taxes

While Metro East residents struggle, local lawmakers continue to get paid over 2-week spring break

By Hilary Gowins

04/13/2017

Local state Reps. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and Daniel Beiser, D-Alton, are still getting paid even though the state still does not have a balanced budget.

Illinois comptroller issues self, lawmakers paychecks despite appeal of circuit court’s ruling

By Greg Bishop

04/12/2017

Rank-and-file lawmakers have received paychecks of more than $50,800.

TAGS: Christine Radogno, Jim Durkin, John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Leslie Munger, Lisa Madigan, Mike Madigan, Susana Mendoza

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

By Michael Lucci

04/05/2017

Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. A previous report in this series estimated the direct cost of workers’ compensation to state, county and municipal governments is $402 million in worker payouts per year.1 Building upon those findings, this report estimates that the total cost of workers’ compensation to...

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/08/2017

While sick leave is necessary for working teachers, letting unpaid sick leave accumulate for the purpose of boosting pensions is an expensive perk that taxpayers cannot afford.

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

By Chris Lentino

03/06/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Education finance solutions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/09/2017

Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.

Freedom of Information Act

Watered-down Illinois property tax ‘freeze’ fails to pass House

Northern Illinois University president to receive $600K severance package amid patronage scandal

In East Aurora, battle over busing is just the tip of the iceberg

Kennedy-led company used Madigan’s firm for property tax refunds

While Metro East residents struggle, local lawmakers continue to get paid over 2-week spring break

Illinois comptroller issues self, lawmakers paychecks despite appeal of circuit court’s ruling

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

Education finance solutions

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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