House bill would bring more transparency to Illinois sales taxes

03/22/2019

Illinoisans face the highest average combined sales tax in the Midwest. A new bill would show consumers exactly where those dollars are going on every purchase receipt.

TAGS: Fred Crespo, sales tax, taxes

Senate bill would double Illinois state gas tax

By Vincent Caruso

03/22/2019

A bill that would double the gas tax imposed at the state level would drive up Illinoisans’ overall gas burden to second-highest in the nation – while hiking a truckload of other vehicle costs including higher license plate fees.

TAGS: gas tax, taxes, transportation

Illinois drivers may see end of automated tickets from red-light cameras

By Vincent Caruso

01/31/2019

Red-light cameras generated lots of traffic ticket revenue for local government without proof they made roads safer. One Illinois House bill would ban them from certain municipalities, but another would ban them statewide.

TAGS: David McSweeney, John Carroll, red light cameras

More than 80 percent of Illinois counties saw population loss in 2017

By Bryce Hill, Austin Berg

03/22/2018

As outmigration fuels population decline throughout the state, Cook County saw the largest numeric population loss of any county in the nation.

TAGS: collar counties, Cook County, outmigration, U.S. Census Bureau

Wheeling approves $7M handout to developer

03/09/2018

Despite residents seeing some of the highest property tax bills in the state, the Wheeling Board of Trustees approved a preliminary agreement giving a developer nearly $7 million to build apartments and retail space in the village.

TAGS: property taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheeling

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

Cook County has largest population loss of any county in the U.S.

By Michael Lucci

03/23/2017

Newly released census data show 89 of Illinois’ 102 counties, and most of the state’s metro areas, have shrinking populations due to out-migration.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Instead of a tax hike, consolidate Illinois’ 7,000 units of local government

By Brendan Bakala

01/26/2017

As lawmakers consider massive tax hikes on Illinoisans, they should look to consolidate nearly 7,000 units of local government and to cut their high administrative costs.

TAGS: education, local government consolidation, property taxes

Illinois takes steps toward consolidating its 7,000 units of government

12/22/2016

Illinois’ duplicative and overlapping units of government contribute to the state’s high property tax burden, but luckily some small steps have been taken to consolidate them.

TAGS: local government, local government consolidation, property taxes

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

By Ben Ruddell, Bryant Jackson-Green

11/16/2016

Most people expect Illinois law enforcement to defend the private property of Illinois residents. As long as you obey the law, your life, liberty and property should be secure from the law – or so common sense would suggest. Yet, every year, Illinois law enforcement agencies take tens of millions of dollars in cash, vehicles,...

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House bill would bring more transparency to Illinois sales taxes

Senate bill would double Illinois state gas tax

Illinois drivers may see end of automated tickets from red-light cameras

More than 80 percent of Illinois counties saw population loss in 2017

Wheeling approves $7M handout to developer

Some Illinois village managers outearn every state governor

Cook County has largest population loss of any county in the U.S.

Instead of a tax hike, consolidate Illinois’ 7,000 units of local government

Illinois takes steps toward consolidating its 7,000 units of government

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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