Illinois jobs recovery worst in Midwest, 8th-worst in nation
Illinois jobs recovery worst in Midwest, 8th-worst in nation
With 251,900 jobs still missing since the pandemic began, Illinois’ job market is the least recovered among Midwestern states
Chicago Teachers Union president quitting after 3rd strike in 27 months
Chicago Teachers Union president quitting after 3rd strike in 27 months
Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey announced he’s returning to the classroom once his term expires in June. Sharkey has led CTU since 2014 through three work stoppages.
Delia Lopez
Delia Lopez
“I hope that many Latinos come forward and ask a Catholic school, ‘What opportunities are there?’ And when they ask me, ‘Gosh, how do you do it?’ I respond, ‘Ask! Ask the school closest to your home. Go and ask.’"
Illinois can save $577M on pensions by adding a date to a law
Illinois can save $577M on pensions by adding a date to a law
Illinois’ pension debt is the highest of any state. An easy fix to state law would start the Tier 3 retirement program, saving $577 million while workers gain options.
House bill would lower property taxes by trimming Illinois government waste
House bill would lower property taxes by trimming Illinois government waste
Illinois leads the nation in local government bloat, with over 6,000 taxing bodies. The Citizen’s Empowerment Act, sponsored by Illinois House Rep. Jonathan Carroll, would make it easier for Illinois taxpayers to dissolve unnecessary layers of government.
Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade
Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade
Chicago property taxpayers face a nearly 5% hike this year after a decade in which their bills nearly doubled. The city failed to capitalize on the COVID-19 stimulus windfall like others did.
Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings
Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged unvaccinated city employees will soon be placed on “no-pay status” and face potential termination for failing to comply with her COVID-19 ultimatum. City lists 550 firefighters as unvaccinated.
Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt
Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt
A financial watchdog report estimated each taxpayer in Chicago would need to pay $43,100 to settle the city’s debt. It stands at No. 2 for big U.S. cities. Blame city leaders for repeatedly making pension debt worse.
Pritzker’s budget: Carrot and stick
Pritzker’s budget: Carrot and stick
Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit
Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit
Despite claims during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s speech, his budget documents show a flood of federal COVID-19 aid temporarily shrank Illinois’ deficit but failed to balance its budget. His next budget will not end well.
Black Illinoisans still hurt most by COVID-19 job losses despite strong 2021
Black Illinoisans still hurt most by COVID-19 job losses despite strong 2021
Nearly 17% of the jobs held by Black Illinoisans prior to the COVID-19 pandemic are still missing, nearly triple the loss of white Illinoisans.
Pritzker pitches $1B in temporary tax cuts after $5.4B in permanent tax hikes
Pritzker pitches $1B in temporary tax cuts after $5.4B in permanent tax hikes
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to unveil $1 billion in temporary tax cuts on groceries, property taxes and gas bills in his new budget. It all goes away just months after he seeks reelection Nov. 8, changing little.
Ep. 22: How do we fix the broken state budget …for real? with Adam Schuster
Ep. 22: How do we fix the broken state budget …for real? with Adam Schuster
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to deliver his fourth budget address today, Feb. 2. Billions in federal relief funds temporarily helped state finances. But without key reforms, state debt will be back to where it was or worse. Adam Schuster joins the Policy Shop to walk through the simple solutions to fix Illinois’ budget.....
If Illinois uses COVID-19 funds for operations, expect financial pitfall
If Illinois uses COVID-19 funds for operations, expect financial pitfall
A think tank advised Illinois leaders not to use temporary federal COVID-19 relief aid for on-going programs. It would lead to future funding shortfalls.