As part of Illinois’ statewide population drop in 2017, southern Illinois counties saw a continuation of population losses they’ve been seeing for years.
Senate Bill 3604 would limit government workers’ ability to collect extravagant severance packages, also known as “golden parachutes,” on their way out of office.
If current population trends hold, Rock Island, Illinois, will take a back seat to Bettendorf, Iowa, within five years.
The excessive severance package comes as a bill curbing golden parachutes sits in the Illinois House of Representatives.
With one proposal to pay off Illinois’ pension debt asking the typical homeowner to pay more than $1,900 in additional property taxes for the next 30 years, the stakes for pension reform have never been clearer.
Taxpayers in the city of Alton, which has identical borders to that of Alton Township, could see savings through consolidation.
The court’s ruling strengthens Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act, a crucial tool in holding government officials accountable.
When people can’t find good job opportunities in Illinois, they are too often forced to leave. And to take their place, too few have enough confidence in the state to move in from elsewhere and build a future.
In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.
A series of occupational licensing reform bills making their way out of the General Assembly would help more Illinoisans enter the workforce.
Springfield is struggling to juggle its priorities, with state lawmakers pressing up against time to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.