A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

By Adam Schuster

08/26/2020

Decades of institutionalized financial mismanagement left Illinois with the nation’s worst fiscal health. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been at the center of nearly every bad decision along the way.

Illinois residents will pay additional online sales tax starting Oct. 1

By Adam Schuster

09/24/2018

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., most online purchases in Illinois will now be subject to automatic collection of the state’s 6.25 percent use tax.

TAGS: sales tax, South Dakota v. Wayfair, taxes

Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems

By Joe Tabor

07/23/2018

Avenues for state oversight for cities with financial difficulties have limited utility in the face of massive pension debt and have almost never been invoked since Springfield passed them into law in 1990.

TAGS: bankruptcy, East St. Louis, Financially Distressed City Law, local government, Local Government Financial Planning and Supervision Act, municipal pensions, pensions

Rhode Island city offers dire warning to Illinois municipalities struggling with pension debt

By Joe Tabor

06/06/2018

Central Falls, Rhode Island, filed for bankruptcy largely because of pension debt. If Illinois municipalities can’t meet or lower their pension obligations, they too could face fiscal collapse.

TAGS: bankruptcy, harvey, municipal pensions, pensions, spending

Illinois General Assembly passes state budget out of balance by as much as $1.5B

By Adam Schuster

05/31/2018

Lawmakers voted to approve the 1,245-page budget less than 24 hours after it was revealed to the public.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Illinois Senate passes Cullerton budget, out of balance by as much as $1.5B

By Adam Schuster

05/30/2018

State senators voted to approve the 1,245-page budget just hours after it was made public.

TAGS: budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton

Illinois borrowing $750M at near-junk credit rating

By Austin Berg

11/29/2017

The state is borrowing millions to finance capital construction projects and information technology improvements. But Illinoisans continue to pay for the worst credit rating of any state in the nation.

TAGS: borrowing, capital project, construction, credit rating

Illinois lawmakers propose bill to regulate political ads on social media

By Amy Korte

11/01/2017

A new bill would require buyers of political and issue ads on social media to disclose their identities and would impose record-keeping requirements on social media companies.

TAGS: election, Facebook

Reuters

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

Illinois residents will pay additional online sales tax starting Oct. 1

Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems

Rhode Island city offers dire warning to Illinois municipalities struggling with pension debt

Illinois General Assembly passes state budget out of balance by as much as $1.5B

Illinois Senate passes Cullerton budget, out of balance by as much as $1.5B

Illinois borrowing $750M at near-junk credit rating

Illinois lawmakers propose bill to regulate political ads on social media

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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