Last-minute Christmas shopping? Illinoisans brace for sky-high sales taxes

By Vincent Caruso

12/21/2017

The holiday season is a time for giving. And, by the time Illinoisans complete their shopping, they’ll have given plenty – to state and local governments.

TAGS: sales tax

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

Cook County has largest population loss of any county in the U.S.

By Michael Lucci

03/23/2017

Newly released census data show 89 of Illinois’ 102 counties, and most of the state’s metro areas, have shrinking populations due to out-migration.

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

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

03/22/2017

Proposed legislation to commemorate former President Barack Obama’s birthday as a state holiday in Illinois would have cost taxpayers nearly $20 million in state personnel expenses and lost productivity.

TAGS: Barack Obama, Deb Conroy, Fred Crespo, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Martin Moylan, Michelle Mussman, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

In Quad Cities, Illinois shrinks while Iowa grows

By Michael Lucci

02/22/2017

The communities in the Quad Cities are nearly identical, but Illinoisans are fleeing to Iowa’s side from the Land of Lincoln’s side, showing just how severe Illinois’ out-migration crisis is.

TAGS: collective bargaining, outmigration, population, taxes

Illinois Senate proposes income tax hike in the face of record out-migration and wealth flight

By Michael Lucci

01/20/2017

The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget plan would raise the personal income tax rate to at least 4.95 percent with no real reforms to address the state’s skyrocketing debt and unsustainable spending. This proposal comes despite Illinois’ loss of $14 billion in annual income and hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the 2011 income tax hike.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, income tax, John Cullerton, outmigration, taxes

Emails reveal Rock Island superintendents used public resources to push tax hike

By David Giuliani

03/03/2015

District superintendents and the regional superintendent from Rock Island County coordinated with an active political action committee to push a sales-tax hike.

TAGS: State Officials and Employees Ethics Act

Illinois corruption watch, June 2014

By Brian Costin, Anthony Trania

07/09/2014

Unfortunately for taxpayers, June was a groundbreaking month for corruption in Illinois. In June alone, there were reports of 85 corruption-related stories in the state. Some of the record-breaking highlights include the following: For the first time in 33 years, the Illinois Legislative Audit Commission exercised its subpoena powers in the issuance of a subpoena...

Rock Island committee backs progressive tax plan that would hike taxes on residents

By Benjamin VanMetre

03/18/2014

The Rock Island County Government Affairs Committee recently passed a resolution urging lawmakers in Springfield to increase taxes on middle-class families. The sales pitch for a progressive income tax in Rock Island – as well as cities and counties across the state – is that it would reduce taxes for middle-class residents. That’s simply not...

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, progressive income tax

Rock Island

Last-minute Christmas shopping? Illinoisans brace for sky-high sales taxes

Sales tax hikes take effect in 50 Illinois taxing districts

Cook County has largest population loss of any county in the U.S.

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

In Quad Cities, Illinois shrinks while Iowa grows

Illinois Senate proposes income tax hike in the face of record out-migration and wealth flight

Emails reveal Rock Island superintendents used public resources to push tax hike

Illinois corruption watch, June 2014

Rock Island committee backs progressive tax plan that would hike taxes on residents

Illinois behind on payments to funeral homes

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