Chicago voters indicate desire for state to fund city

11/07/2012

Will state taxpayers be asked to pick up the employer share of Chicago teacher pensions?

Cook County asks voters if it’s OK to abridge First Amendment rights

By Chris Andriesen

11/02/2012

Diane Cohen General Counsel, Liberty Justice Center Cook County’s Nov. 6 ballot contains a series of advisory questions to voters, the results of which are nonbinding but often used to test – if not justify – future legislative initiatives. Placed on the ballot by vote of the Chicago City Council resolution, some of these questions...

2012 Illinois Piglet Book

By Benjamin VanMetre

11/01/2012

In 2011, Illinois increased its state income tax rate by 67 percent. This tax increase, the largest in state history, cost the average family about $1,500 in additional taxes. Across school districts, municipalities and other local levels of government, taxpayers have faced myriad other tax increases – from gas and sales taxes to congestion fees and...

Education spending skyrockets while test scores still disappoint

By Paul Kersey

10/31/2012

Despite a struggling economy and a backlog of unpaid bills, per-pupil education spending in Illinois rose to an all-time high this year. Instructional expenditures per pupil – costs associated with teaching – reached $6,284, a 46-percent increase since 2002. Operating expenditures per pupil – costs associated with operating a school district – rose to $11,664,...

Supply without demand: public school hires increase while enrollment drops

10/30/2012

There are too many people working in America’s schools. From 1950 to 2009, the amount of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees grew 386 percent while the amount of public school students only grew by 96 percent, according to a recently released report from the Friedman Foundation for Educational Excellence. Looking even closer at the data reveals...

O’Hare renovations: 30 times more expensive than Illinois’ high-speed rail plans

By Brian Costin

10/29/2012

With a track length of nearly 3.1 miles, taxpayers are looking at footing a cost of almost $110 million per mile.

Unused sick days add big payout for retired public school teachers

10/29/2012

For most Illinoisans, paid sick days count on a use it or lose it basis. But that

Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment on proposed Cook County taxes

10/26/2012

FY2013 budget includes cigarette tax hike, guns and ammo taxes and more taxes on businesses

Preckwinkle’s proposed $1 per-pack cigarette tax hike doesn’t add up

By Benjamin VanMetre

10/25/2012

Since 2002, cigarette taxes increased 105 times across the country. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants to make it 106. To help fill Cook County’s $267.5 million budget shortfall, Preckwinkle has proposed increasing the per-pack tax on cigarettes by $1. The tax hike is only expected to bring in about $25 million in new revenue. Preckwinkle’s new money...

Red light camera revenues seduce public officials

10/24/2012

Since the city of Chicago began Illinois

Illinois

Chicago voters indicate desire for state to fund city

Cook County asks voters if it’s OK to abridge First Amendment rights

2012 Illinois Piglet Book

Education spending skyrockets while test scores still disappoint

Supply without demand: public school hires increase while enrollment drops

O’Hare renovations: 30 times more expensive than Illinois’ high-speed rail plans

Unused sick days add big payout for retired public school teachers

Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment on proposed Cook County taxes

Preckwinkle’s proposed $1 per-pack cigarette tax hike doesn’t add up

Red light camera revenues seduce public officials

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students