Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007
Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007
Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue swamping Cook County homeowners.
Pritzker promises over $10B in new spending on $3.7B progressive tax hike
Pritzker promises over $10B in new spending on $3.7B progressive tax hike
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” plan falls far short of the revenue needed to pay for his spending promises – feeding fears of future tax hikes on middle-class families.
Blago’s f-ing golden bunk bed
Blago’s f-ing golden bunk bed
Escape from Illinois Corruption Shawshank
Escape from Illinois Corruption Shawshank
Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year
Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year
Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the second-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...
Will County weighs new 4- to 8-cent countywide gas tax atop doubled Illinois tax
Will County weighs new 4- to 8-cent countywide gas tax atop doubled Illinois tax
County leaders may exercise new taxing authority from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan. Illinois already doubled its portion of the gas tax, pushing the total burden to No. 3 in nation.
RIP corruption reform
RIP corruption reform
Illinois’ film tax credit program is theatrically bad
Illinois’ film tax credit program is theatrically bad
Illinois’ film tax credit program is a slap in the face to the state’s small business community outside the spotlight, does little to grow good jobs and is rife with corruption.
Cash-strapped Illinois counties chase down unpaid tickets from 1980s
Cash-strapped Illinois counties chase down unpaid tickets from 1980s
Illinois counties are hiring debt collectors to track down people who may owe money for older, unpaid traffic tickets. One woman accused of owing money would have been just 14 when the ticket was issued.
Illinois Shark Week
Illinois Shark Week
Illinois imposing car trade-in tax on Jan. 1; Dealers call it double taxation
Illinois imposing car trade-in tax on Jan. 1; Dealers call it double taxation
The state collects no sales tax on trade-in value, but that changes next year. Car dealers call the $60 million to be collected ‘double taxation’ because trade-ins were taxed when purchased.
Pritzker signs good government bill to show taxpayers how much of their property taxes go to developers
Pritzker signs good government bill to show taxpayers how much of their property taxes go to developers
Illinoisans will soon see their property tax bills listing tax increment financing districts and the amounts the districts are absorbing. Debate about the cost versus benefit should follow.
651 new Illinois public pensioners average $1.3M in estimated retirement benefits
651 new Illinois public pensioners average $1.3M in estimated retirement benefits
Newly retired government workers’ lifetime pension benefits will far exceed what they contributed toward their own retirements
Lightfoot ethics reforms give more teeth to city watchdog, limit outside employment for aldermen
Lightfoot ethics reforms give more teeth to city watchdog, limit outside employment for aldermen
Chicago aldermen will be held to higher ethical standards after approving the new mayor’s proposals to repair Chicago’s well-earned reputation for corruption.