Unemployment rate drops as Illinois workforce shrinks by 33,600 during summer moving season

By Michael Lucci

08/19/2016

Manufacturing weakness driving Illinois unemployment up; dropout and out-migration driving unemployment down.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, manufacturing, unemployment

23 of Illinois’ 29 largest cities are shrinking, Chicago sees 2nd-biggest population decline in U.S.

By Michael Lucci

05/19/2016

In the majority of Illinois’ large cities, the number of people moving to another part of the country is greater than the combined gains from more births than deaths and international immigration.

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

5 facts show IMRF is just as unsustainable as every other Illinois pension fund

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/06/2016

The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund’s relative health compared with other government-worker pension funds is only due to its ability to force localities to fund it at the expense of other pension funds and vital local services.

TAGS: IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, local government, municipal pensions, pensions

Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

By Hilary Gowins

05/04/2016

Caterpillar’s plans to bring new jobs to Arizona demonstrate how Illinois politicians’ planned tax hikes and failure to make needed regulatory reforms harm the state’s manufacturing sector.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, workers compensation

Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average

By Austin Berg

04/28/2016

Illinois homeowners are struggling under the weight of the nation’s highest property-tax bills, according to a new analysis.

TAGS: property taxes

Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House

By Hilary Gowins

04/26/2016

House Bill 696 would freeze property taxes across the state. Under the plan, local governments could still increase rates, but only with approval from voters. The bill doesn’t apply to home-rule governments, however. That’s no small exemption: 7.8 million Illinoisans live in a home-rule municipality such Chicago, Naperville or Peoria. This number also doesn’t account for Cook County, which is also home-rule, and would be exempted from this property-tax freeze.

TAGS: property taxes

Jobs are the ultimate crime stoppers

By Austin Berg

04/25/2016

Illinois taxpayers will pay about $5.7 billion over the next five years in costs related to ex-offenders returning to prison.

Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities

By Hilary Gowins

04/21/2016

The Illinois House of Representatives voted against a proposal to freeze property taxes, denying much-needed relief to Illinoisans, who bear the third-highest property-tax burden in the nation.

TAGS: property taxes

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address

By illinoispolicy

02/17/2016

Full transcript of Governor Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address, as prepared for delivery to the General Assembly on Feb. 17, 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

By Michael Lucci

01/31/2016

Caterpillar Inc.’s announcement of 670 layoffs comes amid the loss of a quarter of the manufacturing jobs in Peoria and Tazewell counties since 2008.

Peoria

Unemployment rate drops as Illinois workforce shrinks by 33,600 during summer moving season

23 of Illinois’ 29 largest cities are shrinking, Chicago sees 2nd-biggest population decline in U.S.

5 facts show IMRF is just as unsustainable as every other Illinois pension fund

Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average

Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House

Jobs are the ultimate crime stoppers

Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

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Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students