Coke County: Townships overwhelmingly reject bringing back soda tax
Coke County: Townships overwhelmingly reject bringing back soda tax
Voters across seven Cook County townships strongly oppose a return of the sweetened beverage tax.
Madison County voters eliminate office of recorder of deeds
Madison County voters eliminate office of recorder of deeds
Madison County voters decided Nov. 6 that responsibilities such as recording land transfers and maintaining deeds no longer justify a separate office for an elected official.
Voters want Springfield to shed a little government
Voters want Springfield to shed a little government
Voters said they don’t need a township on top of Springfield city government, but unless Sangamon County leaders act there will be no tax savings.
Alton Township survives consolidation referendum
Alton Township survives consolidation referendum
Alton Township was on the chopping block Nov. 6. While neighboring communities consolidated unnecessary layers of government, Alton residents will keep their township.
Springfield shopping gets pricier after voters OK school sales tax
Springfield shopping gets pricier after voters OK school sales tax
Voters decided Sangamon County school building improvements were worth boosting Springfield’s sales tax to among the highest in the nation. The 1 percent sales tax hike will take the total to 10.75 percent at some stores.
Lake County village rejects sales tax referendum
Lake County village rejects sales tax referendum
A proposed 1 percent sales tax would have increased the village of Barrington’s sales tax burden to among the highest in the nation.
Voted for Kodos
Voted for Kodos
Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan
Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan
State records show AFSCME has funneled at least $1.4 million to Michael Madigan and Madigan-controlled committees in the past five years – including at least $823,200 just this year.
Jackie Reed
Jackie Reed
“I’ve seen a mass exodus. I’ve been a realtor for 24 years, on average selling 40 to 50 homes a year. I usually had my sellers call me because they wanted to move to a new house [in Illinois]. Now, instead, they call and say, ‘We’re done, the taxes are too high. Too much corruption.’...
58 former Illinois state lawmakers collecting six-figure pensions
58 former Illinois state lawmakers collecting six-figure pensions
Former lawmakers receive generous benefits from the state’s worst-run retirement fund.
Nearly 80 percent of Alton property tax levy consumed by pensions
Nearly 80 percent of Alton property tax levy consumed by pensions
The share of Alton’s annual property tax levy going to pension payments has more than doubled over the past decade.
William Gee
William Gee
“My parents saw a future in this town. “For 40 years, we paid our dues in taxes, property taxes. We’ve created value. Everybody’s brother and sister has worked for us locally. For most of them, it’s their first job. “Good times, hard times, we went through it all. We actually helped the village. My parents...
Taxpayer tab totals $98M to keep southwestern Illinois airport open
Taxpayer tab totals $98M to keep southwestern Illinois airport open
Local leaders say more passengers will reduce the need for taxpayer money at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. But as traffic rises, so too has the tab for St. Clair County taxpayers.
Illinois teacher pension fund requests $400M in additional taxpayer contributions
Illinois teacher pension fund requests $400M in additional taxpayer contributions
The pension fund’s request for $4.8 billion in taxpayer contributions for the next budget year, a 10 percent increase from the previous year, highlights the need for pension reform in Illinois.