Civic leaders across the state have signed onto an open letter declaring their opposition to a progressive income tax, as momentum continues to build against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature proposal.

Polling of likely voters shows why some Democratic Illinois House members could regret voting for the governor’s graduated income tax.

A proposal in the Illinois House would stop local government leaders from using public resources to fight efforts to consolidate any government unit.

The proposal would lower all local governments’ property tax levies by 10 percent and then freeze them in Illinois. Any future increase would require voter approval.

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill before leaving office, but bipartisan support in the General Assembly may send it back to the governor’s desk.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims his progressive income tax 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.

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.

The village of Lakewood is making encouraging reforms in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

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.