Illinois personal income growth 2nd lowest in U.S. since Great Recession

By Bryce Hill

01/09/2020

Only Mississippi has fared worse than Illinois in personal income growth since the Great Recession hit at the end of 2007. Analysis shows state income taxes matter.

TAGS: corporate income tax, flat tax, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income, income growth, income tax, JB Pritzker, labor, marginal tax, personal income, population, progressive income tax, recession, Springfield, tax burden

Southwestern Illinois loses big chunk of population, with one exception

By Brad Weisenstein

04/25/2019

One Illinois county in the greater St. Louis area is losing so many residents it ranks No. 5 nationwide for population loss. Its neighboring county was one of the few in Illinois to grow.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, Monroe County, outmigration, population, St. Clair County

Pritzker’s plastic bag tax is all about green paper

By Austin Berg

03/28/2019

Those pushing the bag tax in Illinois may not care much about the body of research on this topic. They’re looking out for a different kind of green. In a scramble for new revenue and an unwillingness to take on any reform on the spending side, the Statehouse has turned to creative ways to nickel-and-dime residents.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, plastic bag tax, plastic bags, taxes

Illinois small business cuts 6 jobs immediately after $15 minimum wage hike

By Brad Weisenstein

02/19/2019

A vinyl graphics business in southwestern Illinois wasn’t planning to downsize. But the state’s $15 minimum wage hike has forced the owners to cut six jobs.

TAGS: employment, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment

Rock Island County hikes property taxes by nearly 12 percent

By Janelle Cammenga

12/05/2018

County board members narrowly voted to hike the county’s property tax levy by nearly 12 percent to make up for a $500,000 shortfall.

TAGS: property taxes, Rock Island County, taxes

Moline proposes hiking city’s already-high property taxes

10/23/2018

City officials suggest Moline will face a budget deficit without a property tax hike – which would only worsen the property tax plight of area homeowners.

TAGS: Moline, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

East Moline taxpayers could find savings through school district consolidation

By Vincent Caruso

07/09/2018

While Quad Cities geography connects East Moline and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, Illinois’ abundance of school districts means their administrative environments are worlds apart. By consolidating duplicative administrative bodies, East Moline could generate taxpayer savings.

TAGS: East Moline, education, outmigration, pensions, Quad Cities, school district consolidation

Belleville has seen sharpest population decline among top Illinois cities since 2010

By Vincent Caruso

06/08/2018

As Illinois struggles to address its people problem, population loss has plagued communities across the Land of Lincoln. But the shrinkage in some areas has been more severe than others.

TAGS: Belleville, jobs, Metro East, Missouri, outmigration, population

New census data tell the tale of Quad Cities

By Austin Berg

05/25/2018

If current population trends hold, Rock Island, Illinois, will take a back seat to Bettendorf, Iowa, within five years.

TAGS: Iowa, outmigration, personal income, population, property taxes, Quad Cities, Rock Island County, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Property tax bills en route for Rock Island County residents

By Austin Berg

05/04/2018

Homeowners’ 2017 property tax bills (payable in 2018) outpace the state and national average, when measured as a share of home value.

TAGS: Iowa, outmigration, property taxes, Rock Island County, taxes

Mississippi River

Illinois personal income growth 2nd lowest in U.S. since Great Recession

Southwestern Illinois loses big chunk of population, with one exception

Pritzker’s plastic bag tax is all about green paper

Illinois small business cuts 6 jobs immediately after $15 minimum wage hike

Rock Island County hikes property taxes by nearly 12 percent

Moline proposes hiking city’s already-high property taxes

East Moline taxpayers could find savings through school district consolidation

Belleville has seen sharpest population decline among top Illinois cities since 2010

New census data tell the tale of Quad Cities

Property tax bills en route for Rock Island County residents

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