Senate President John Cullerton says Illinois doesn’t need a revenue estimate

By Adam Schuster

05/09/2018

Agreeing on how much money one has to spend is a basic first step of budgeting.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Illinois Constitution, John Cullerton

School funding, the ballot box and Illinois’ high property taxes

By Austin Berg

03/08/2018

Before your school district asks for another penny in property taxes, ask your school board what they’re doing to get their own house in order.

TAGS: education, pensions, property taxes, teacher salaries

Illinois Senate votes to advance marijuana legalization question to ballot

By Brendan Bakala

03/02/2018

The Marijuana Legalization Referendum Act would ask voters if they support legalizing recreational marijuana for people 21 and over. The question is nonbinding.

TAGS: ballot referendums, marijuana

Palatine-Schaumburg school board member raises conflict-of-interest concerns

By Brendan Bakala

02/08/2018

A District 211 board member is sitting in on negotiations with the same teachers union that bought her campaign signs during the 2017 District 211 school board election. But much more than yard signs, Illinois' collective bargaining laws for government worker unions stack the deck against local taxpayers.

TAGS: collective bargaining, labor, Palatine, strike

Berrios fined $41K for donations from property tax appeals lawyers

By Brendan Bakala

01/18/2018

The Cook County assessor may have to pay $41,000 in fines for accepting donations in excess of the limit allowed by Cook County campaign finance rules.

TAGS: Cook County, Joseph Berrios, property taxes

Berrios defends delays in reviewing unfair property tax system

By Chris Lentino

11/01/2017

Nearly three months removed from the initial call for review of the property tax system, Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios refuses to provide a timeline for completion and release.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board of Review commissioner under investigation for potential ethics violation

By Brendan Bakala

08/28/2017

Ethics officials are petitioning the Cook County Circuit Court to enforce a subpoena seeking information on potential profits obtained by Commissioner Larry Rogers from his law firm’s lawsuits against Cook County government.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, corruption, Joseph Berrios, Larry Rogers

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up Wisconsin gerrymandering case

By Marianna Schmiesing

08/03/2017

Illinois’ election districts heavily dilute suburban vote.

TAGS: election, fair maps, gerrymandering, independent maps, U.S. Supreme Court, Wisconsin

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

By Austin Berg

07/27/2017

Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Frank Mautino, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Mautino committee fined $5K for campaign finance disclosure violations

By Eric Kohn

05/15/2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections cast a tie vote on whether to refer to the Illinois attorney general or LaSalle County state’s attorney the disclosure violations case regarding Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino’s previous campaign funds.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois State Board of Elections

Illinois State Board of Elections

Senate President John Cullerton says Illinois doesn’t need a revenue estimate

School funding, the ballot box and Illinois’ high property taxes

Illinois Senate votes to advance marijuana legalization question to ballot

Palatine-Schaumburg school board member raises conflict-of-interest concerns

Berrios fined $41K for donations from property tax appeals lawyers

Berrios defends delays in reviewing unfair property tax system

Cook County Board of Review commissioner under investigation for potential ethics violation

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up Wisconsin gerrymandering case

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

Mautino committee fined $5K for campaign finance disclosure violations

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