Palatine school-district contract a case study in how closed-door, government-union deals hurt taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2016

Palatine-area Community Consolidated School District 15 posted its 10-year contract with its teachers union more than a month after it had been signed, ensuring that potentially harmful contract provisions can only come to light after it is too late for students, parents and taxpayers to do anything about it.

TAGS: education, labor

Government-union demands hurt taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

05/24/2016

Illinois government-worker unions demand pay that outstrips that of Illinois private-sector workers and propose numerous tax hikes to fund their contract demands.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Palatine-area District 15’s new 10-year contract ‘unprecedented’

By Mailee Smith

04/25/2016

Residents of suburban Chicago’s Community Consolidated School District 15 have seen their incomes remain flat – or drop. Meanwhile, school district officials have committed these same taxpayers to fund a 10-year contract, which the public has never seen.

TAGS: education, unions

Senate overrides Rauner’s veto of arbitration bill

By Mark Fitton

08/20/2015

The measure would enable mandatory arbitration should either the state or its unionized employees declare a bargaining impasse in their continuing contract talks.

Illinois Corruption Watch, May 2014

By Brian Costin

06/04/2014

In completing our second month of the new “Illinois Corruption Watch” project, we are shocked at the volume of corruption stories being reported across the state. In just two months we have found reports of 101 different corruption-related stories; 45 in April and 56 in May. It’s no wonder Illinois citizens have by far the...

Illinois ranks first in number of local taxing bodies

By Brian Costin

03/02/2014

When it comes to local taxing bodies and local property taxes, Illinois is an extreme outlier in comparison to the rest of the nation. We rank first in number of local taxing bodies, with 6,963, and have the second-highest property tax rate in the nation. But this isn’t news for Illinois residents who have looked...

TAGS: local government, property taxes

Illinois’ largest cities show wide disparity in online transparency, Chicago fails

By Brian Costin

12/19/2013

A new report looking at the state’s 25 largest municipalities shows a wide disparity in citizens’ access to basic government information online from community to community. In places such as Evanston, Skokie and Orland Park, citizens have excellent access to basic financial and participatory information online, but the same isn’t true in many other areas....

TAGS: good government, transparency

Taxing bodies powerless to stop Schaumburg TIF, property tax increases

By Brian Costin

10/31/2013

Village officials in Schaumburg are pushing for $512 million in new property taxes via a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, district. The taxes would be used to create an entertainment district north of Woodfield Mall. But it’s not just people who pay property taxes in Schaumburg who would foot the bill. TIF districts cause property...

TAGS: Schaumburg, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Capitol Updates: April 29 week in review

By Jane McEnaney

05/03/2013

This was an eventful week in Springfield with both chambers in session. Virtual charter school moratorium bill moves to Senate subcommittee The Senate Education Committee did not hear House Bill 494 during its hearing on Tuesday, so the Illinois Policy Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski, was unable to testify in opposition to the bill as planned. Instead,...

State lawmakers sponsor legislation to match Budget Solutions reforms

By Jane McEnaney

03/04/2013

On Feb. 28, the Illinois Policy Institute held a press conference to publicly release its alternative budget plan, entitled Budget Solutions 2014. This 10-point plan offers responsible solutions to Illinois’ fiscal crisis. State Reps. Tom Morrison, Jeanne Ives, Dwight Kay and state Sen. Kyle McCarter showed their support and attended the press conference. Budget Solutions...

Palatine

Palatine school-district contract a case study in how closed-door, government-union deals hurt taxpayers

Government-union demands hurt taxpayers

Palatine-area District 15’s new 10-year contract ‘unprecedented’

Senate overrides Rauner’s veto of arbitration bill

Illinois Corruption Watch, May 2014

Illinois ranks first in number of local taxing bodies

Illinois’ largest cities show wide disparity in online transparency, Chicago fails

Taxing bodies powerless to stop Schaumburg TIF, property tax increases

Capitol Updates: April 29 week in review

State lawmakers sponsor legislation to match Budget Solutions reforms

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