Oak Lawn credit rating hits junk status amid skyrocketing pension costs
Oak Lawn credit rating hits junk status amid skyrocketing pension costs
Massive increases in public safety pension contributions have failed to keep Oak Lawn’s credit from being downgraded to junk status. The Chicago suburb’s leaders are fighting cuts and tax increases, which are inevitable without pension reform in Springfield.
By Brad Weisenstein
With voters set to decide on progressive income tax, Illinois wealth flight among worst in the nation
With voters set to decide on progressive income tax, Illinois wealth flight among worst in the nation
New data shows Illinois since 2010 lost up to $32 billion in income from people moving out. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan would hike rates on residents most likely to leave the state, on net.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Indiana is building far more single-family homes than Illinois
Indiana is building far more single-family homes than Illinois
The historic change comes as skyrocketing property tax bills eat into Illinois homeowners’ bottom line.
By Austin Berg
Illinois license plate sticker among most expensive in the nation
Illinois license plate sticker among most expensive in the nation
Illinoisans will be paying among the nation’s highest vehicle registration fees as part of a $45 billion infrastructure proposal pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly.
What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois
What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois
Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law.
By Austin Berg
Illinois saw nation’s worst population loss during the decade
Illinois saw nation’s worst population loss during the decade
Illinois suffered its sixth consecutive year of population decline in 2019, driven entirely by residents leaving for other states.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Chicago commuter will see $286 parking tax hike Jan. 1 under Pritzker plan
Chicago commuter will see $286 parking tax hike Jan. 1 under Pritzker plan
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan calls for an increased parking tax, just one of the new ways drivers will pay more in 2020.
Illinois ethics panel begins with small ethical lapse
Illinois ethics panel begins with small ethical lapse
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed a former state lawmaker to his panel on ethics and lobbying. Trouble was, the lawmaker had recently worked as a lobbyist.
2019 laws in review, Illinois lawmakers passed both nice and naughty bills
2019 laws in review, Illinois lawmakers passed both nice and naughty bills
The Illinois General Assembly passed over 600 new laws in 2019. Some helped taxpayers, but many more hurt as they spent $85 billion while doing little to fix the pension crisis.
Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders
Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders
Chicago’s second round of anti-corruption rules restricts aldermen and city employees from working as lobbyists and stops other elected leaders from lobbying city government for private clients.
Will County board approves new $12M gas tax atop doubled state tax
Will County board approves new $12M gas tax atop doubled state tax
Will County became the first county to use new taxing authority under Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan, adding a new countywide gas tax of 4 cents per gallon atop state and local gas taxes.
By Vincent Caruso