Small lots lower Illinois housing prices, even for big homes

By LyLena Estabine

11/18/2025

A Lombard housing project shows how smaller lots can lower costs, boost development and help Illinois address its housing shortage.

TAGS: real estate

Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform

By Bryce Hill

01/26/2024

The Illinois Supreme Court voted to uphold a law consolidating 649 municipal police and firefighter pension funds. It may help the state’s pension woes, but amending the Illinois Constitution is needed for real solutions.

9 Democrats demand Madigan’s resignation as Illinois House speaker

08/06/2020

America’s longest-serving House speaker is facing mounting pressure from within his own party over corruption implications in the federal case against ComEd.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan

Pritzker ‘fair tax’ could cost Lombard families nearly $900

By Austin Berg

02/14/2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims his progressive income tax hike will only affect the rich. But Illinoisans making as little as $26,100 would see an income tax hike under rates Pritzker cited in his budget address.

TAGS: income tax, JB Pritzker, Lombard, progressive income tax, taxes

Taxpayer-funded Lombard hotel filing for bankruptcy

08/04/2017

A decade-old, 18-story, taxpayer-funded hotel in the village of Lombard is headed for bankruptcy, proving to be a misguided investment of taxpayer dollars.

TAGS: cronyism, Lombard, Lombard Public Facilities Corp, municipal government

Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators

05/26/2017

A DuPage County school district is severing ties with two administrators before their contracts expire, and it’s going to cost taxpayers.

TAGS: DuPage County, education, Lombard, property taxes

Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants full of waste

By David Giuliani

06/02/2015

Taxpayers are on the hook for $8 million a year in wasteful grants for amenities ranging from dog parks to disc-golf courses.

TAGS: IDNR: Department of Natural Resources

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

By Brian Costin

11/01/2014

In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...

TAGS: good government, waste

Local Transparency Project Endorsements

By Brian Costin

01/01/2013

Municipal Endorsements Village of Orland Park “Many different local municipalities have reached out to us since our scores (100%) were announced publicly, they want to know how we did it, and all the credit goes to the Illinois Policy Institute and their staff for working with us to improve our online transparency strategy.” – Joe LaMargo,...

Institute in Daily Herald: A road map to transparency

08/10/2012

Only when our government leaders emphasize the importance of transparency in all they do will taxpayers truly benefit.

Lombard

Small lots lower Illinois housing prices, even for big homes

Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform

9 Democrats demand Madigan’s resignation as Illinois House speaker

Pritzker ‘fair tax’ could cost Lombard families nearly $900

Taxpayer-funded Lombard hotel filing for bankruptcy

Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators

Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants full of waste

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

Local Transparency Project Endorsements

Institute in Daily Herald: A road map to transparency

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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