County referendum would raise Springfield sales tax burden to among nation’s highest

By Janelle Cammenga

09/11/2018

A proposed 1 percent sales tax for school facilities improvements would bring the city of Springfield’s combined sales tax rate to 9.75 percent – among the highest in the nation.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, sales tax, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation

08/28/2018

A ballot question asking voters whether to eliminate Capital Township could bring savings to Springfield taxpayers – but that would just be one of many steps worth taking to lower Springfield’s high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Sangamon County, Springfield, townships

Retiring as early as age 50, Springfield municipal pensioners bank over $1M

08/13/2018

Among the 23 former city of Springfield employees who retired at age 50, five have accumulated more than $1 million in pension benefits.

TAGS: IMRF: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Springfield

Will County shoppers would pay among nation’s highest sales taxes under referendum proposal

By Vincent Caruso

07/30/2018

A new sales tax proposed by Will County school districts would put some residents’ sales tax burden in a league with Chicago, which is home to the highest combined sales tax rate of any major city in the U.S.

TAGS: sales tax, taxes, Will County

Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed

By Adam Schuster

07/19/2018

The 2017 permanent income tax hike took $732 from the median Illinois household, roughly the same as the $737 that will be returned to state workers who were previously forced to pay “fair share” fees to government unions.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, budget, fair share, income tax, Janus v. AFSCME, taxes

Springfield arena a multimillion-dollar drain on local taxpayers

06/26/2018

As part of a large and growing property tax bill, Springfield area taxpayers have to bail out the Bank of Springfield Center.

TAGS: municipal pensions, pensions, Springfield, taxes

Changes to federal SALT deduction expose Illinois’ high taxes

By Travis Nix

06/18/2018

House Bill 4237 seeks to get around Congress’ limitation of a federal deduction that benefits high-tax states, but residents would be better served by efforts to directly reduce state and local taxes in Illinois.

TAGS: income tax, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, property taxes, SALT, taxes

As city of Springfield sees taxes rise, its population falls

06/06/2018

With pension debt straining city finances, local politicians have insisted on turning to its declining population for more tax revenue.

TAGS: bonds, credit rating, municipal pensions, outmigration, pensions, population, property taxes, Sangamon County, Springfield, taxes

New census data tell the tale of Quad Cities

By Austin Berg

05/25/2018

If current population trends hold, Rock Island, Illinois, will take a back seat to Bettendorf, Iowa, within five years.

TAGS: Iowa, outmigration, personal income, population, property taxes, Quad Cities, Rock Island County, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017

By Austin Berg

05/23/2018

In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.

TAGS: Belleville, Chicago, Decatur, jobs, Metro East, outmigration, Peoria, population, Rockford, spending, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau

Springfield

County referendum would raise Springfield sales tax burden to among nation’s highest

Springfield taxpayers could see savings through township consolidation

Retiring as early as age 50, Springfield municipal pensioners bank over $1M

Will County shoppers would pay among nation’s highest sales taxes under referendum proposal

Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed

Springfield arena a multimillion-dollar drain on local taxpayers

Changes to federal SALT deduction expose Illinois’ high taxes

As city of Springfield sees taxes rise, its population falls

New census data tell the tale of Quad Cities

Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017

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

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