Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
State spending grew 25 percent faster than Illinoisans' personal income from 2005-2015.
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
Nearly 4 in 10 of those eligible for refunds made a claim for an average refund check of $36.62.
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
Business owners in one Illinois community are using the law to fight back against high property tax bills. Their lawsuit claimed property taxes spiked on commercial properties from 2015 to 2016, but only in their town.
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sponsoring a trampoline court regulation bill that is identical to the one she sponsored in 2017.
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
House Bill 4273 would eliminate a loophole in state law that allows lawmakers to receive a month's pay for a day of work.
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
The Land of Lincoln's addiction to regressive "sin taxes" burns more and more of Illinoisans' incomes.
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers.
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
A potential 2 percent dine-in tax imposed on Springfield restaurants has yet to be introduced, but the idea - which other towns have tried - is not a welcome one.
6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
Illinoisans shoulder some of the highest property taxes in the country. This burden is key to understanding the state's outmigration problem. Despite the failure of lawmakers to reverse this crisis, there remain a number of sound reforms waiting for consideration.
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Some Madison County townships could see their costs go up, which could drive up property taxes.
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
A recent analysis ranked 75 of the most populated cities in terms of fiscal health - and placed the Windy City next to dead-last.
3 Illinois metros saw jobs loss, most saw labor force decline in 2017
3 Illinois metros saw jobs loss, most saw labor force decline in 2017
New state data shed a light on weak economic growth in metro areas across Illinois.
Decatur jobs loss in 2017 among the worst in Illinois
Decatur jobs loss in 2017 among the worst in Illinois
Decatur is the fastest-shrinking city in the state since 2010, and saw some of the heaviest jobs losses among metro areas in 2017.
Illinois state lawmaker introduces bill to ban kratom
Illinois state lawmaker introduces bill to ban kratom
The herbal supplement is already prohibited for Illinoisans under the age of 18.