Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Pensions in Quincy cost 126% of municipal property taxes

By Adam Schuster, Justin Carlson

09/24/2021

Quincy property taxes do not generate enough to fund the municipal pension costs. Even with that heavy burden, there is so much state and local pension debt that the average Quincy household owns more than $35,600.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Quincy

Over 90% of Rock Island municipal property taxes taken by public pensions

By Adam Schuster, Robert Brutvan, Perry Zhao

09/22/2021

Despite so much of the property tax share going to public pensions, there is still a huge unmet pension debt. The average Rock Island household owes nearly $40,000 to state and local pensions.

TAGS: pensions, property taxes, Rock Island

Manufacturer to shutter 2 Illinois plants, open $26M Indiana facility

By Vincent Caruso

09/19/2018

Accepting a deal that includes $6 million in subsidies, Wynright Corporation will expand its operations in Indiana and close plants in suburban Elk Grove and Oak Lawn.

TAGS: Indiana, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, jobs, manufacturing, outmigration, unemployment

53 representatives sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

By Chris Lentino

09/06/2018

Taxpayers across Illinois oppose a progressive tax but many state lawmakers still refuse to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.

TAGS: graduated income tax, income tax, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, taxes

Coca-Cola distributor relocating facility, 143 jobs to Iowa from Rock Island

By Eddie Damstra

06/08/2018

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plans to move its Rock Island facility to Walcott, Iowa, where the company is expected to receive substantial tax incentives.

TAGS: jobs, Quad Cities, Rock Island County, workers compensation

Typical family in Rock Island County would see $513 tax hike under progressive tax proposal

By Austin Berg

03/16/2018

The Illinois side of the Quad Cities is already seeing population loss as residents pack up and leave high tax burdens behind.

TAGS: income tax, population, progressive income tax, Quad Cities

Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery

By Orphe Divounguy

01/24/2018

Illinois will not diverge from its path of poor growth until lawmakers realize the failures of recent tax hikes.

TAGS: GDP: gross domestic product, income tax, investment, taxes

Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

By Orphe Divounguy, Austin Berg, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

01/22/2018

Illinois' jobs growth trailed that of the nation during the first half of 2017, then slowed to a halt in the wake of the General Assembly's record-breaking tax hike.

TAGS: income tax, jobs, property taxes, taxes, unemployment

Like a good neighbor: Illinois sees record loss of people to nearby states

By Austin Berg

01/04/2018

Solving Illinois’ people problem requires addressing the high cost of government, which makes the state far less attractive for people looking to plant roots.

TAGS: income tax, outmigration, pensions, population, property taxes, taxes

Rock Island

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Pensions in Quincy cost 126% of municipal property taxes

Over 90% of Rock Island municipal property taxes taken by public pensions

Manufacturer to shutter 2 Illinois plants, open $26M Indiana facility

53 representatives sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

Coca-Cola distributor relocating facility, 143 jobs to Iowa from Rock Island

Typical family in Rock Island County would see $513 tax hike under progressive tax proposal

Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery

Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

Like a good neighbor: Illinois sees record loss of people to nearby states

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