Lake County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?

By Vincent Caruso

03/28/2018

In 2017 alone, Lake County billed homeowners $1.8 billion in property taxes. Owners of a median-valued home in Lake Forest received a $13,600 property tax bill.

TAGS: Lake County, property taxes, taxes

Lake Forest city manager outearns all 50 state governors

By Vincent Caruso

03/19/2018

In Illinois, hundreds of municipal workers earn more than every state governor. The city manager of Lake Forest is the second-highest paid city manager in the state.

TAGS: property taxes, salaries, spending

Off the rails: Estimated cost for Lake Forest Amtrak stop has grown by more than 400 percent

By Vincent Caruso

03/12/2018

Efforts to add an Amtrak train stop in Lake Forest have been plagued by a series of setbacks for a project now estimated to cost more than $13.4 million.

TAGS: Amtrak, budget, grants, lobbying

Report: Lake Forest officials squandered $200K on lobbying costs without city approval

By Vincent Caruso

03/02/2018

An independent investigation found nearly $200,000 went toward lobbying the state and federal government for an Amtrak train stop - funds that were spent behind the back of city lawmakers and taxpayers.

TAGS: lobbying

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

By Amanda McDonald

01/15/2018

The village of Lakewood is making encouraging reforms in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: property taxes, taxes

Some Illinois village managers outearn every state governor

01/07/2018

The Mount Prospect village manager is set to receive a $214,000 salary in 2018, joining a long list of other Illinois municipal officials collecting similar and even larger paychecks.

TAGS: LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, mayor, property taxes

Founder of pharmaceutical company indicted for bribing doctors to prescribe opioids

By Amy Korte

11/01/2017

As federal and state officials sound the alarm about opioid abuse, Illinois lawmakers should take steps to root it out of the workers’ compensation system.

TAGS: opioid, physician dispensing, workers compensation

Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K

07/27/2017

High-priced government workers cost taxpayers in Illinois $10 billion a year, with municipal managers in areas surrounding Chicago reaping the most benefits.

TAGS: Chicago, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, McHenry County, municipal government, Will County

The battle over Airbnb in Lake Bluff, Illinois

By John Kristof

07/25/2017

Lake Bluff homeowners home sharing with Airbnb were forced to cease and desist by the village zoning board.

TAGS: Airbnb, collaborative economy, homesharing, regulations, sharing economy

4 manufacturers announce plans to shut down or move out of Illinois

By Michael Lucci

11/01/2016

Continued jobs losses in manufacturing underscore the need to reform the state’s onerous tax and regulatory policies.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, outmigration, property taxes, right to work, unemployment, workers compensation

Lake Forest

Lake County homeowners: Where do your property taxes go?

Lake Forest city manager outearns all 50 state governors

Off the rails: Estimated cost for Lake Forest Amtrak stop has grown by more than 400 percent

Report: Lake Forest officials squandered $200K on lobbying costs without city approval

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

Some Illinois village managers outearn every state governor

Founder of pharmaceutical company indicted for bribing doctors to prescribe opioids

Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K

The battle over Airbnb in Lake Bluff, Illinois

4 manufacturers announce plans to shut down or move out of Illinois

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