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.
New findings from the Mercatus Center highlight how Illinois’ reliance on debt and costly pension and other employment benefits have put the state on the wrong fiscal track.
Though most of the top 100 property tax bills came from New York, the state with the second most entries was Illinois. The 13th highest bill in the country belonged to Exelon’s nuclear generating station in Byron, Illinois, totaling $36.5 million in 2016.
In her Dec. 5 ruling, a Cook County Circuit Court judge said Chicago’s oppressive food truck regulations serve legitimate city interests. But evidence shows the only interests the rules protect are those of politically connected restaurant owners and politicians.