Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

10/12/2017

Consolidating governments in the collar counties could help lower residents’ high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government, local government consolidation, property taxes

More than a third of Illinois’ largest cities shrinking in population

10/03/2017

Twelve of the 29 Illinois cities with over 50,000 in population are losing residents.

TAGS: outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Oswego hikes taxes on fuel and prepared food and beverages

By Brendan Bakala

09/07/2017

The new taxes are planned to pay for road maintenance and improvement as well as general use. As is the case in communities throughout Illinois, pension costs are crowding out other spending in Oswego.

TAGS: budget, municipal government, Oswego, pensions, property taxes

New bill would outlaw Cook County soda tax

By Brendan Bakala

08/15/2017

House Bill 4082 would ban Illinois home rule counties from levying taxes on sweetened drinks by volume sold.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, sugar tax

Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature

06/02/2017

House Bill 418 would prevent retired police officers from double dipping in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which has placed a burden on taxpayers at the local level.

TAGS: Grant Wehrli, IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Michael Connelly, municipal pensions, pensions

Questions of Justice: The Nicarico Murder Case

By illinoispolicy

03/03/2017

Illinois is home to the nation's sixth-highest rate of wrongful convictions. The story of Aurora's Rolando Cruz is one harrowing example.

TAGS: criminal justice reform

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

Chervon North America to move headquarters to Illinois

By Brendan Bakala

01/13/2017

The company plans on moving its white-collar workforce to Naperville, while keeping its manufacturing plant in Michigan.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, unemployment, workers compensation

Naperville and Lisle townships to vote on consolidating road districts

01/11/2017

Voters in Naperville and Lisle townships will have the chance to vote on government consolidation after the success of a similar referendum in the November elections.

TAGS: local government, local government consolidation, municipal government

Our regrettable shrinking state

By Austin Berg

12/30/2016

The U.S. Census Bureau released new migration data Dec. 20, and it’s frightening. Illinois has a massive people problem. From July 2015 to July 2016, the state’s population declined by more than 37,000 people. That’s the worst population loss in the nation, and will likely mean the loss of a seat in the U.S. House...

TAGS: outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Naperville

Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

More than a third of Illinois’ largest cities shrinking in population

Oswego hikes taxes on fuel and prepared food and beverages

New bill would outlaw Cook County soda tax

Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature

Questions of Justice: The Nicarico Murder Case

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

Chervon North America to move headquarters to Illinois

Naperville and Lisle townships to vote on consolidating road districts

Our regrettable shrinking state

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