Controversial hiring in McHenry County townships boost calls for consolidation

04/24/2018

The appearance of patronage hires in some McHenry County townships highlights consolidation efforts at the state and local level.

TAGS: consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, McHenry County, townships

More than 100 township governments file in opposition to township consolidation bill

By Vincent Caruso

04/12/2018

A House bill that would allow communities to consolidate local township governments has earned support from both parties – and the opposition of township officials.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Sam Yingling, townships

Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

10/12/2017

Consolidating governments in the collar counties could help lower residents’ high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government, local government consolidation, property taxes

Rauner education funding changes bring $7.5M more to Yingling’s school districts

By Ted Dabrowski

08/12/2017

Defenders of Senate Bill 1 are putting a bailout of Chicago Public Schools ahead of their own local school districts.

TAGS: education, Sam Yingling, Senate Bill 1

While politicians posture, Illinois industry is getting crushed

By Austin Berg

05/04/2017

The average cost of workers’ comp for steel workers among neighboring states is under $8 per $100 of payroll compared to nearly $12 in Illinois.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, workers compensation

Illinois House passes bill to allow dissolution of township road districts

05/01/2017

House Bill 607 would allow for the consolidation of a duplicative layer of government, something Illinois taxpayers desperately need.

TAGS: local government, local government consolidation, property taxes, Sam Yingling

Luxembourg’s ambassador sends letter to Illinois House leaders

By Brendan Bakala

03/31/2017

Luxembourg’s ambassador to the United States has voiced objections to an Illinois House bill that would label Luxembourg a tax haven and subject corporations expatriated there to restrictions on investments and business dealings with the state of Illinois.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christian Mitchell, grand bargain, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Investment Policy Board, Jim Durkin, John D’Amico, Katie Stuart, Lawrence Walsh Jr., Martin Moylan, Mike Madigan, Sam Yingling, Silvana Tabares, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

By Brendan Bakala

03/30/2017

On March 29, the Illinois House of Representatives voted almost unanimously in favor of allowing voters to decide on local government consolidation – a crucial component of shrinking local government spending, which drives up property taxes. State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, sponsored House Bill 496, which received bipartisan support – more than a dozen representatives...

TAGS: local government consolidation, townships

Illinois politicians vote to divert $300M from state coffers to fuel local spending

By Amy Korte

03/16/2017

Despite Illinois’ billions in deficit spending and skyrocketing debt, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 278, which would transfer an additional $300 million per year of state income tax funds to local governments, continuing to prop up local overspending that fuels high property taxes.

TAGS: Illinois House of Representatives, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, property taxes

Madigan makes history while Illinois’ middle class races toward extinction

By Austin Berg

01/12/2017

At the end of his term in 2019, Madigan will be the longest-serving House speaker of any state in modern U.S. history.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Sam Yingling

Controversial hiring in McHenry County townships boost calls for consolidation

More than 100 township governments file in opposition to township consolidation bill

Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

Rauner education funding changes bring $7.5M more to Yingling’s school districts

While politicians posture, Illinois industry is getting crushed

Illinois House passes bill to allow dissolution of township road districts

Luxembourg’s ambassador sends letter to Illinois House leaders

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

Illinois politicians vote to divert $300M from state coffers to fuel local spending

Madigan makes history while Illinois’ middle class races toward extinction

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