Illinois Senate

Southern Illinois’ wide range of property taxes

By Brendan Bakala

05/02/2017

Jackson County has the highest median property taxes among the southernmost counties in Illinois, and falls in the state’s top 50 counties for highest property taxes. Meanwhile, Hardin County residents pay the lowest median property taxes in the state.

TAGS: Hardin County, Jackson County, property taxes

Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015

By Brendan Bakala

05/02/2017

The state agreed to the tax credits in exchange for Capital One hiring 210 new employees and retaining 900.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Business and Employment Development Tax Credit Act, cronyism, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, jobs, Michael Zalewski, Mike Madigan, Natalie Manley, Pam Althoff, tax credits, Transforming Helping and Reviving Illinois’ Versatile Economy

The damaging effects of Chicagoland’s latest tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/17/2017

Chicagoans have been burdened with a slew of new taxes and the full damage has yet to be felt. A state income tax hike, like the one proposed in the Illinois Senate’s so-called “grand bargain,” would only further harm struggling Chicagoans.

TAGS: Chicago

15 southern Illinois counties drop in population

04/14/2017

Fifteen counties in the southernmost part of Illinois lost population from July 2015 to July 2016, fueled by significant domestic migration.

TAGS: Alexander County, Franklin County, Gallatin County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Jackson County, Massac County, outmigration, Perry County, Pope County, population, Pulaski County, Randolph County, Saline County, Union County, White County, Williamson County

Illinois Tollway fees a good example of how Illinois politicians interpret ‘temporary’

By Matt Paprocki

04/13/2017

Illinois politicians are once again eyeing a “temporary” tax increase, and residents should be wary. History shows Illinois politicians favor tax hikes over spending reform, and the Tollway and 2011 income tax battle offer examples of the dangers taxpayers face when politicians toy with a temporary tax hike.

TAGS: Illinois Tollway

Illinois House proposes ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers

By Amy Korte

04/06/2017

House Bill 3393 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers.

TAGS: Chris Welch, House Revenue and Finance Committee, outmigration, taxes

Why are Illinois Democrats preparing to bail out bankers and cash-strapped local governments?

By Michael Lucci

04/03/2017

Bailout bills moving in the Illinois General Assembly would attempt to turn Illinois’ massive debt problems into guaranteed profits for banks and bondholders and a lower standard of living for other Illinoisans.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, general obligation bonds, grand bargain, John Cullerton, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, property taxes, RTA: Regional Transportation Authority

Don’t be fooled by ‘penny for schools’ tax

By Austin Berg

03/30/2017

A multibillion-dollar business based in Missouri — Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. — is making a pretty penny helping to hike local sales taxes across Illinois.

TAGS: CSFT: Illinois County School Facility Occupation Tax, penny tax, Stifel Nicolaus & Co.

House resolution would oppose Illinois Senate’s internet streaming tax

03/29/2017

Legislation with bipartisan support in the House would oppose the internet streaming tax proposal – which might not even be legal – in the Senate’s “grand bargain.”

TAGS: David McSweeney, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, taxes

Unbalanced Budget Response Act would allow Rauner to make cuts to balance the budget

By Amy Korte

03/28/2017

Illinois House Bill 3868 would give Gov. Bruce Rauner the authority to trim costs and reorder the state’s spending priorities to balance the budget.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, debt, Fitch Ratings, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, spending, unpaid bills

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

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