City of Springfield needs $269M in tax hikes to fund pensions
City of Springfield needs $269M in tax hikes to fund pensions
The city of Springfield needs nearly $270 million more in revenue to meet the required contributions to its pension funds for retired police officers and firefighters.
Growth in tollway revenue shows Illinois never planned on keeping its ‘freeway’ promise
Growth in tollway revenue shows Illinois never planned on keeping its ‘freeway’ promise
Illinois drivers were supposed to be ‘toll free in ’73.’ But in 2019, state leaders still show no sign of abandoning tollway revenue.
By Adam Schuster
St. Clair County home values down 23%, property taxes up 5% since recession
St. Clair County home values down 23%, property taxes up 5% since recession
Without true pension reform, St. Clair County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.
By Brad Weisenstein
Pension costs force suburban Illinois village to weigh new property tax
Pension costs force suburban Illinois village to weigh new property tax
Rising pension costs could force suburban Carol Stream to impose a property tax for the first time in five decades.
Pritzker warns Illinois state agencies to brace for ‘significant’ budget cuts
Pritzker warns Illinois state agencies to brace for ‘significant’ budget cuts
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker advised state agencies to prepare for budget cuts next fiscal year, despite approving $4.7 billion in tax and fee hikes in his first year alone.
By Vincent Caruso
Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections
Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections
A watchdog has accused Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough of running an “illegal patronage” operation, and is calling for federal oversight of her office.
Only in Illinois: Wife of indicted political boss will hold highest judicial post in the state
Only in Illinois: Wife of indicted political boss will hold highest judicial post in the state
What would appear to many Illinoisans as glaring conflicts of interest over the years have not appeared to raise red flags for the new chief justice.
By Austin Berg
Property tax relief task force votes against ending costly conflicts of interest
Property tax relief task force votes against ending costly conflicts of interest
Some Illinois lawmakers supplement their income doing property tax appeals work at private law firms. A property tax relief task force that includes some of those lawmakers killed a proposal to end that conflict of interest.
By Vincent Caruso
Will County home values down 28%, property taxes up 4% since recession
Will County home values down 28%, property taxes up 4% since recession
Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue eating at Will County homeowners.
By Vincent Caruso
Anne Burke named chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court while husband faces corruption charges
Anne Burke named chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court while husband faces corruption charges
The Illinois Supreme Court elected Anne Burke chief justice as Ald. Ed Burke faces a 14-count indictment on federal corruption charges.
By Vincent Caruso
Al Lashbrook: Benny’s Corner Bar & Grill
Al Lashbrook: Benny’s Corner Bar & Grill
“I grew up in Illinois. I joined the military, took off, went out west, lived out there for a while. I came back and finally married my wife. She’s from Farmington, so I moved out here. We might be here another three years. “I approached my father-in-law about a year and a half ago about...
Kane County home values down 29%, property tax up 4% since recession
Kane County home values down 29%, property tax up 4% since recession
Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue hurting Kane County homeowners.
By Vincent Caruso
State bailout of local pension funds would bring Illinois pension debt to $200B
State bailout of local pension funds would bring Illinois pension debt to $200B
Bailing out local governments’ underwater pension funds would exacerbate Illinois’ pension debt, inviting tax hikes on middle class Illinoisans.
By Adam Schuster