False promises, real harm: Why Illinoisans should reject a progressive income tax

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

03/26/2018

States with a progressive income tax see greater income inequality, and have seen income inequality rise faster than states without a progressive income tax.

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

03/08/2018

If Illinois adopted Virginia’s spending habits along with policies that can reduce costs and raise home values, the Prairie State could vastly reduce the property tax burden that Illinois homeowners currently face.

Budget Solutions 2019: The responsible budget for Illinois

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/06/2018

Even after a 32 percent income tax hike, the Illinois General Assembly passed a state budget in 2017 that will generate an estimated $1.5 billion deficit in fiscal year 2018. That deficit is projected to grow to $2.15 billion in fiscal year 2019, according to the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, or GOMB. The...

SPECIAL REPORT: Why Illinois needs a spending cap

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/06/2018

Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers.

House of pain: Illinois property taxes up, but home prices lag

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/05/2018

Compared with the nation, Illinois has been a laggard in terms of housing appreciation.

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

By Orphe Divounguy

01/06/2018

While effective property tax rates might be on the decline in some communities, census data show Illinois families are seeing a larger share of their household budgets eaten up by property tax bills.

Building fairness and opportunity: The effects of repealing Illinois’ prevailing wage law

By Orphe Divounguy

12/07/2017

Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act has no place in the 21st century. Policymakers should enact fair and competitive construction laws that give all individuals who are willing to work a fighting chance.

Illinois’ $21 billion in school debt pushes up property taxes

By Ted Dabrowski, Evelyn Hussey

07/11/2017

Illinois’ debt per student is the 11th highest of any state in the nation. It is almost 15 percent higher than the national average of $8,764.

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

By Michael Lucci

04/05/2017

Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. A previous report in this series estimated the direct cost of workers’ compensation to state, county and municipal governments is $402 million in worker payouts per year.1 Building upon those findings, this report estimates that the total cost of workers’ compensation to...

United States Census Bureau

False promises, real harm: Why Illinoisans should reject a progressive income tax

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

Budget Solutions 2019: The responsible budget for Illinois

SPECIAL REPORT: Why Illinois needs a spending cap

House of pain: Illinois property taxes up, but home prices lag

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

Building fairness and opportunity: The effects of repealing Illinois’ prevailing wage law

Illinois’ $21 billion in school debt pushes up property taxes

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

Workers’ compensation estimated to cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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