Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
The Taxpayer Fiscal Charter Act would demand funding transparency before spending bills make their way out of Springfield.
By Vincent Caruso
Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan
Controversial assessments have history of appeals by Burke and Madigan
An order currently under consideration by Chicago City Council challenges the assessments of seven properties, four of which have been the subject of property tax appeals by the law firms of Chicago Alderman Ed Burke or Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
By Brendan Bakala
Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery
Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery
Illinois will not diverge from its path of poor growth until lawmakers realize the failures of recent tax hikes.
By Orphe Divounguy
Privacy law prevents Illinoisans from using Google app’s selfie art feature
Privacy law prevents Illinoisans from using Google app’s selfie art feature
A new feature on Google's Arts & Culture app is not available to Illinois users because of the state's strict biometric privacy law.
By Amy Korte
Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike
Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike
Illinois' jobs growth trailed that of the nation during the first half of 2017, then slowed to a halt in the wake of the General Assembly's record-breaking tax hike.
By Orphe Divounguy, Austin Berg, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
Former Markham mayor pleads guilty for part in $300,000 bribery scheme
Former Markham mayor pleads guilty for part in $300,000 bribery scheme
The agreement stated former Markham Mayor David Webb steered city projects to those who bribed him.
By Brendan Bakala
Naperville aims to raise taxes on cellphones, Airbnb
Naperville aims to raise taxes on cellphones, Airbnb
Illinois' fifth-largest city is moving to raise taxes on telecommunications and hotels, and fold homesharing into the latter.
By Vincent Caruso
‘Right to strike’ being used against West Chicago taxpayers and students
‘Right to strike’ being used against West Chicago taxpayers and students
Illinois has enshrined a "right to strike" in state law, effectively giving government worker unions the power to shut down government services to get what they want. The latest example: A teachers' union in West Chicago may go on strike in February to force 22 percent pay raises over the course of the next contract.
By Mailee Smith
Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider
Chicago City Council approves $5.5 million TIF subsidy for private health provider
Under the guise of rehabilitating underserved communities, Chicago City Council approved another tax transfer to a private company.
By Vincent Caruso
Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties
Chicago aldermen move to challenge lowball assessments on some of Chicago’s priciest properties
Alderman Ricardo Munoz's proposal highlights seven expensive properties in or around the Loop that aldermen contend were underassessed, shifting the property tax burden to other property owners.
By Brendan Bakala