The state again had the highest residential property tax rate in the U.S. in 2024, tied with New Jersey.

Going into this budget cycle, there should be an added urgency for the City Council to build its capacity to play a co-equal role in the budget process and push to adopt more reforms and efficiencies to control spending.

Revamping how the state decides on spending would improve responsibility and transparency.

Drivers paid nearly $27 billion in tolls from 2024 back to 1973, the year the roads were to become toll-free. Now the largest passenger toll hike in Illinois history is possible.