Settlement deal helps prevent parents’ nightmares from coming true
Settlement deal helps prevent parents’ nightmares from coming true
Vague, arbitrary and overly protective rules, like we see often in Illinois, don’t do anyone any favors.
Local government workers in Rock Island County take home 6-figure pensions
Local government workers in Rock Island County take home 6-figure pensions
Seven former local officials across Rock Island County are taking home pensions in excess of $100,000 a year. And nearly a dozen have already collected $1 million over the course of their retirements.
Owner of ‘Sixteen Candles’ home paid more than $200K in property taxes over past decade
Owner of ‘Sixteen Candles’ home paid more than $200K in property taxes over past decade
That’s why they call them taxes. If they were easy, they’d call them something else.
Gus Rapatas
Gus Rapatas
“Our property taxes went from $12,500 to $19,200 over the course of six years on this Norwood Park commercial property. And we’ve been losing money every year charging lower rent to accommodate for the property taxes. “We fight it every year, but $19,000 is the best we’ll get here. Can’t do it anymore, it’s not...
Outgoing SIU president to receive $215K severance, new $100K job
Outgoing SIU president to receive $215K severance, new $100K job
Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn will receive a $215,000 severance package before taking a lucrative job at the university’s Edwardsville campus.
Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems
Hog-tied: Illinois state law not equipped to address local governments’ pension problems
Avenues for state oversight for cities with financial difficulties have limited utility in the face of massive pension debt and have almost never been invoked since Springfield passed them into law in 1990.
15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions
15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions
In the midst of Chicago’s $36 billion pension crisis, former city officials are seeing big payouts.
Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.
Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.
Illinois added 18,100 new jobs in June, the highest monthly increase since summer 2017, but the Prairie State still lags behind the rest of the nation for the post-recession period.
Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system
Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system
Illinois should take steps toward more accurate and frequent property assessments to ensure the tax burden is distributed as fairly as possible.
Chicago, Cook County employees will see more money in their paychecks
Chicago, Cook County employees will see more money in their paychecks
At least 730 Cook County and 646 Chicago employees have been freed from paying forced union fees following the Janus v. AFSCME decision.
Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed
Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed
The 2017 permanent income tax hike took $732 from the median Illinois household, roughly the same as the $737 that will be returned to state workers who were previously forced to pay “fair share” fees to government unions.
Outgoing Lake Forest official poised to collect large pension following Amtrak lobbying scandal
Outgoing Lake Forest official poised to collect large pension following Amtrak lobbying scandal
Months after an investigation found Lake Forest’s city manager to have squandered $200,000 on unauthorized lobbying payments, the north suburban official announced plans to retire next year.
Amid cuts to school band program, Norridge-area taxpayers fund 59 district employees making over $100K
Amid cuts to school band program, Norridge-area taxpayers fund 59 district employees making over $100K
Duplicative school districts and an excess of publicly funded six-figure salaries have educated Norridge-Harwood Heights taxpayers on the benefits of consolidation.
Push to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban gains momentum
Push to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban gains momentum
A petition to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban has garnered more than 7,000 signatures, as lawmakers in the General Assembly throw their support behind a bill that would do just that.