Tax hike threat looms as Illinois budget deadline nears By Bryce Hill 05/27/2026 They are signaling a willingness to raise taxes as the May 31 deadline quickly approaches.
New data: Illinois homeowners pay country’s highest property taxes By LyLena Estabine 05/27/2026 The state again had the highest residential property tax rate in the U.S. in 2024, tied with New Jersey. TAGS: property taxes
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs By LyLena Estabine 05/26/2026 Many school districts cover teachers’ required pension contribution of 9% of their salary — putting that burden on taxpayers.
Bad revenue forecasts drive reckless state spending By Ravi Mishra 05/22/2026 Lawmakers too often decide what to spend without an accurate picture of what will come in.
Illinois drivers pay nation’s second-highest gas taxes ahead of Memorial Day By Todd J. Behme 05/21/2026 Gas prices in Illinois are up 48% from last Memorial Day. Here’s what to know about the state’s gas tax.
2 ways to improve Illinois spending decisions By Ravi Mishra 05/20/2026 Lawmakers make costly decisions without understanding the economic impact.
A Bears deal shouldn’t leave property taxpayers on the sidelines By Mark Batinick 05/19/2026 Any deal linked to a stadium should benefit everyone.
Illinoisans can read a budget before it passes for the first time in at least 10 years By Lilly Rossi 05/19/2026 Bucking the practice of recent years, lawmakers introduced the proposed budget more than three weeks before the May 31 end of the session.
Pritzker board eliminates poor attendance from Illinois school ratings By Hannah Schmid 05/19/2026 High chronic absenteeism will no longer hurt a school’s state rating.
At least 5 Democratic states are opting into the FSTC. What’s holding up Pritzker? By Lilly Rossi 05/18/2026 At least 31 states have said they plan to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. TAGS: JB Pritzker