Illinois lawmakers hike 911 fees statewide, override Rauner’s veto

By Austin Berg

07/03/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner issued an amendatory veto nixing fee hikes from a 911 service reauthorization bill lawmakers sent to his desk, noting Illinoisans already pay some of the nation’s highest taxes on their cellphones. But those fee hikes will become law, as lawmakers have voted to override the governor’s veto.

TAGS: taxes, wireless tax

Rauner strips fee hikes from 911 funding bill

By Austin Berg

06/30/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner issued an amendatory veto nixing fee hikes from a 911 service reauthorization bill lawmakers sent to his desk. Illinoisans already pay some of the nation’s highest taxes on their cellphones.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chicago, veto, wireless tax

Property taxes in northwest Chicago suburbs to spike by $560 on average

By John Kristof

06/15/2017

Lawmakers need to enact comprehensive property tax reform to provide relief for overburdened state taxpayers.

TAGS: housing, property taxes

Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country

By Austin Berg

06/02/2017

Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, cell phone tax, Rahm Emanuel, wireless tax

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.

Multibillion-dollar tax hikes will only exacerbate Illinois’ weak economic activity

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner

04/13/2017

The latest report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois experienced falling tax collections, indicating trouble in the state economy. Spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

TAGS: budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dan McConchie, Kyle McCarter, Moody's Investor Service

Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break

By Brendan Bakala

04/07/2017

Under a 2015 agreement between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and The Advisory Board Co., the state gave a tax credit worth millions of dollars in exchange for 55 jobs.

TAGS: DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, tax credits, taxes

Tax increment financing: A primer

By Chris Lentino

02/21/2017

Local governments create TIF districts to encourage development in “blighted” areas; but TIFs often don’t deliver on promised economic benefits, while they do divert tax dollars from other uses and create opaque slush funds for the mayor to reward insider developers.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner

02/08/2017

A new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois has experienced falling tax collections, which may indicate trouble in the state economy; spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Christine Radogno, corporate income tax, income tax, John Cullerton, Medicaid, pensions, property taxes, sales tax, taxes

Federal tax changes could pressure Illinois to repeal death tax

By Michael Lucci

11/21/2016

A repeal of the federal estate tax would make it imperative that Illinois get rid of its own state death tax to avoid losing even more residents and income to other states.

TAGS: death tax, estate tax, taxes

Washington

Illinois lawmakers hike 911 fees statewide, override Rauner’s veto

Rauner strips fee hikes from 911 funding bill

Property taxes in northwest Chicago suburbs to spike by $560 on average

Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country

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

Multibillion-dollar tax hikes will only exacerbate Illinois’ weak economic activity

Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break

Tax increment financing: A primer

Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes

Federal tax changes could pressure Illinois to repeal death tax

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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