Illinois’ April 30 Tax Freedom Day tied for latest in Midwest

By Craig Lesner

04/28/2017

When it comes to taxes, everyone works for the government. Illinoisans worked 120 days – from Jan. 1 until April 30 – to pay the taxes they owe to federal, state and local governments.

TAGS: income tax, tax freedom day, taxes

Multibillion-dollar tax hikes will only exacerbate Illinois’ weak economic activity

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner

04/13/2017

The latest report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois experienced falling tax collections, indicating trouble in the state economy. Spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

TAGS: budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dan McConchie, Kyle McCarter, Moody's Investor Service

Making sense of the economics of Illinois

By Michael Lucci

04/12/2017

Illinois has all of the necessary elements for success.

Decatur shrinks as Illinois manufacturing declines

By Brendan Bakala

04/11/2017

Macon County is one of the 89 counties out of Illinois’ 102 that are losing residents.

TAGS: Decatur, Macon County, population, U.S. Census Bureau

The shrinking Metro East

By Brendan Bakala

04/10/2017

St. Clair and Madison counties saw combined population losses of more than 1,600 people due to out-migration to other states.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, Missouri, Monroe County, outmigration, population, St. Clair County, St. Louis, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois workers’ compensation rules cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion a year

By Brendan Bakala

04/07/2017

State and local costs for workers’ compensation are out of line with what other states pay.

TAGS: budget, workers compensation

Illinois’ employment drought and the oases next door

By Austin Berg

04/06/2017

There are 170,000 fewer people working in Illinois since before the Great Recession.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Great Recession, Indiana, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, manufacturing, outmigration, right to work, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment, Wisconsin, workers compensation

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

By Michael Lucci

04/05/2017

Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. A previous report in this series estimated the direct cost of workers’ compensation to state, county and municipal governments is $402 million in worker payouts per year.1 Building upon those findings, this report estimates that the total cost of workers’ compensation to...

Many St. Clair County residents would face higher sales tax rates than Chicago if sales tax proposals pass

By Lea Thoele

04/04/2017

If voters approve proposals to raise St. Clair County sales taxes by a combined 2 percent, people in some parts of St. Clair County would face total sales taxes of over 11 percent.

TAGS: sales tax, St. Clair County, taxes

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

By Mailee Smith

03/31/2017

While states surrounding Illinois are enacting labor reforms that benefit residents, Illinois remains a bastion of labor power. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants even more power – including the broadened right to go on strike and strand parents and students.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, labor, unions

Midwestern United States

Illinois’ April 30 Tax Freedom Day tied for latest in Midwest

Multibillion-dollar tax hikes will only exacerbate Illinois’ weak economic activity

Making sense of the economics of Illinois

Decatur shrinks as Illinois manufacturing declines

The shrinking Metro East

Illinois workers’ compensation rules cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion a year

Illinois’ employment drought and the oases next door

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

Many St. Clair County residents would face higher sales tax rates than Chicago if sales tax proposals pass

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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