More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive salaries over $100,000

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/06/2017

More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive salaries over $100,000. For career county workers, that means pensions worth millions of dollars over the course of their retirements.

TAGS: 401(k), Cook County, municipal pensions, pensions

Preckwinkle admits soda tax was ‘first and foremost’ about revenue

By Chris Lentino

10/05/2017

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle shared an admission that the soda tax was always about revenue.

TAGS: Cook County, municipal pensions, soda tax, Teamsters, Toni Preckwinkle

More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

By Brendan Bakala

09/12/2017

Lucrative compensation for government workers stands in stark contrast to the city’s budgetary struggles and a flagging local economy.

TAGS: local government, municipal government, pensions, Peoria, property taxes

Each Chicago household on the hook for $82K in local government debt

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

09/11/2017

After a tax hike spree from Chicago-area politicians, residents are stuck paying more only to carry an ever-larger load of debt.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel

The march of the millennials – out of Illinois

By Austin Berg

09/07/2017

Illinois lost as many as 37,000 millennials on net every year from 2011 through 2014 for a total net loss of as many as 148,000 millennials.

TAGS: millennials, outmigration, population

School buses finally arrive for East Aurora students, but unfairness remains

By Mailee Smith

09/01/2017

Thousands of East Aurora students will be able to take buses to school for the first time, but the community still stands as an example of how school district decisions don’t always prioritize students.

TAGS: Aurora, education, pensions, teacher salaries

Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom

By Austin Berg

08/24/2017

Illinois school districts spent $1 billion on district-level administration in fiscal year 2014 – more than any other state.

TAGS: consolidation, education, school district consolidation

Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them

By John Klingner, Evelyn Hussey

07/16/2017

Illinois homeowners’ property taxes are among the highest in the nation. They are consuming more and more of Illinoisans’ incomes.

TAGS: housing, property taxes, real estate

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.

Cook County black population falls by 12,000 from 2015-2016

By Michael Lucci

06/24/2017

Cook County has lost nearly 50,000 black residents since the 2010 census, and the rate is accelerating.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, employment, outmigration, population, prevailing wage, unemployment, workers compensation

United States Census Bureau

More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive salaries over $100,000

Preckwinkle admits soda tax was ‘first and foremost’ about revenue

More than 250 Peoria city employees receive over $150K in compensation

Each Chicago household on the hook for $82K in local government debt

The march of the millennials – out of Illinois

School buses finally arrive for East Aurora students, but unfairness remains

Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom

Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them

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

Cook County black population falls by 12,000 from 2015-2016

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students