The spending plan passed in a familiar scramble in the final hours of the 104th Illinois General Assembly.
The state’s home prices have jumped 48% while housing for sale has plummeted.
The state’s residents paid over $8,300, which was 18.5 percent more than the national average.
Illinois has added a net of only 9,400 private-sector jobs since the governor took over.
Illinois lawmakers’ late-night budget sets a new spending record financed by more tax hikes on the final day of legislative session.
Lawmakers plan to stop the automatic gas tax increase for six months but plan to use an unexpected $150 million in sales tax from high gas prices to balance the budget rather than benefit taxpayers.
Renewing the state pension buyout for two years means flexibility for retirees and savings for the state.
Kevon Williams does workforce and community work on his native West Side of Chicago.
Thirteen county boards to date have adopted resolutions pushing for the governor to opt into a donor-funded federal program for academic needs.
Clabe Johnson wants to instill a sense of community in the neighborhood’s young men.
Year after year the state budget has diverted money meant for transportation to pay the bills. It’s a good bet the fiscal 2027 budget will do it again.