Illinois property taxes No. 2, double national average in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

03/01/2025

Illinois families will pay the second-highest property tax rate in the nation in 2025, spending more than double what the average American family will spend to stay in the same home. That’s driving Illinoisans away.

TAGS: property taxes

Missed opportunity: Irresponsible budgeting costs Illinois nearly $27 billion

By FJ Hilgart

02/28/2025

Illinois had a prime opportunity with increased revenues and COVID relief funds to balance the budget. Instead, the government spent it all and now faces an even larger shortfall.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

How to stop unfair elections in Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

02/27/2025

Some Illinois voters April 1 will tell state lawmakers what to do about some of the state’s most pressing problems. One of the issues is the process of deciding legislative and congressional districts. Here’s what to know about gerrymandering.

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

By Bryce Hill

02/27/2025

Illinois ability to keep its residents is third from the bottom. Only California and New York have more people moving to other states.

TAGS: outmigration, population

4 of 5 top states Americans moving to have flat or no income tax

By Bryce Hill

02/26/2025

Of the states most Americans are moving to, 4 of 5 have a flat or no income tax. The states losing the most residents? There again, 4 of 5 have progressive taxes. Illinois’ flat tax is an advantage it should keep.

Pritzker’s $1.5B in wishful thinking might leave taxpayers poorer

By Patrick Andriesen

02/26/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget for 2026 relies on more than $1.55 billion in newly increased revenue estimates to cover cost. That optimism collides with state agencies’ and experts’ sober predictions, meaning taxpayers are again at risk?

Slow economic growth stops Illinoisans from getting ahead

By Chris Coffey

02/26/2025

Illinois ranks 44th in the country on entrepreneurship and economic growth, which stops people from getting ahead.

Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

By Patrick Andriesen

02/26/2025

A new report from the Tax Foundation shows the typical Illinois taxpayer will save big thanks to the constitutional protections of Illinois’ flat tax. Some state lawmakers want to take that protection away.

New bills would help keep state spending in check

By FJ Hilgart

02/25/2025

House Bill 3014 and Senate Bill 1546 would tie Illinois’ spending growth to GDP growth, potentially saving billions of dollars as the state needs to live within its means.

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

02/25/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2026 budget includes record spending, cuts to economic development and overreliance on short-term revenue tricks—including a cleverly hidden tax hike, leaving significant work for the state to reach financial stability.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois

Illinois property taxes No. 2, double national average in 2025

Missed opportunity: Irresponsible budgeting costs Illinois nearly $27 billion

How to stop unfair elections in Illinois

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

4 of 5 top states Americans moving to have flat or no income tax

Pritzker’s $1.5B in wishful thinking might leave taxpayers poorer

Slow economic growth stops Illinoisans from getting ahead

Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

New bills would help keep state spending in check

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

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