Illinois leads nation in pumpkin production again

10/30/2017

Leading the nation in pumpkin production is one of the few statistics Illinoisans can boast about in 2017.

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

By Brendan Bakala

10/16/2017

Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

TAGS: Bloomington, consolidation, fees, local government, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, Naperville, New Lenox, Oswego, pensions, Peoria, property taxes, sales tax, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Wheaton

More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

By Brendan Bakala

09/12/2017

Lucrative compensation for government workers stands in stark contrast to the city’s budgetary struggles and a flagging local economy.

TAGS: local government, municipal government, pensions, Peoria, property taxes

Mattoon forced to cut ambulance services to pay for growing pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/06/2017

Communities across Illinois are being forced to cut local services and raise taxes to afford their pension payments, putting residents who rely on local government services at risk because of the inherent failures of defined-benefit plans.

TAGS: 401(k), Mattoon, municipal pensions, pensions, self-managed plans

Black students in suburban, downstate Illinois benefit from amendatory veto of education bill

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/16/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendments to Senate Bill 1 would bring nearly $25 million more to the 10 Illinois school districts with the highest black student enrollment outside of Chicago.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Senate Bill 1

Sales tax hikes take effect in 50 Illinois taxing districts

By John Kristof

07/07/2017

More than 50 Illinois counties, municipalities and business districts started imposing sales tax increases ranging from 0.25-1.5 percent as of July 1.

TAGS: sales tax

4 reasons Illinois Republicans should ditch the tax talk

By Michael Lucci

06/29/2017

Polling shows that Illinoisans are overwhelmingly opposed to an income tax hike, and Illinois’ poor economic growth combined with wealth out-migration mean billions in tax hikes will only inflict further damage on a struggling state.

TAGS: budget, income tax

Illinois House passes resolution encouraging tourism in the Bahamas

By Marianna Schmiesing

06/23/2017

State representatives passed House Resolution 290, encouraging tourism between Illinois and the Bahamas.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, special session

Chicago only major U.S. city to lose population from 2015 to 2016

By Michael Lucci

05/25/2017

While major headlines broke over news that Chicago was the only one of America’s largest 20 cities to shrink from July 2015 to July 2016, most of Illinois’ other cities with 50,000 people or more also lost population.

TAGS: Berwyn, Champaign, Chicago, Cicero, Decatur, Oak Park, outmigration, Peoria, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

Peoria

Illinois leads nation in pumpkin production again

Wave of local tax and fee increases sweeping Illinois

More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

Mattoon forced to cut ambulance services to pay for growing pension crisis

Black students in suburban, downstate Illinois benefit from amendatory veto of education bill

Sales tax hikes take effect in 50 Illinois taxing districts

4 reasons Illinois Republicans should ditch the tax talk

Illinois House passes resolution encouraging tourism in the Bahamas

Chicago only major U.S. city to lose population from 2015 to 2016

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

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