Decatur property taxes put the hurt on remaining residents
Decatur property taxes put the hurt on remaining residents
With an average property tax bill of more than $2,000 a year, Decatur continues to hike taxes on a shrinking population.
Laura and Phil Valdez
Laura and Phil Valdez
“Our property taxes are 12 percent of our income. And this is an unincorporated area. “All our neighbors complain about it. People at work complain about it. You read so much about it. There’s a high level of frustration. Because they see what’s happening to their pocketbooks. They’re feeling the effects of it. “On property...
Illinois cursive writing mandate for schools
Illinois cursive writing mandate for schools
DAILY LINKS / 4.14.2023
Center Square – Illinois school officials are requesting funding that tops $10 billion Chicago Tribune – Lori Lightfoot and Kim Foxx clashed in texts mayor’s office partially withheld from public Sun-Times – Chicago’s youngest voters are ‘the future’ — so why don’t more of them vote? Daily Herald – Portillo's workers in Addison vote to unionize Fox 32 Chicago – Celebrities, special guests celebrate new Boys and Girls Club opening in South Elgin $2.6 million raised at the 10th “All In for Wesleyan” fundraiserIllinois’ April 30 Tax Freedom Day tied for latest in Midwest
Illinois’ April 30 Tax Freedom Day tied for latest in Midwest
When it comes to taxes, everyone works for the government. Illinoisans worked 120 days – from Jan. 1 until April 30 – to pay the taxes they owe to federal, state and local governments.
Illinois Tollway approves $4 billion Tri-State widening project
Illinois Tollway approves $4 billion Tri-State widening project
Despite the massive size and scope of the project to widen the Tri-State, the Illinois Tollway board suggests new tolls and taxes won’t be needed – but history shows that promises related to tolls in Illinois haven’t held up in the past.
Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation
Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation
Credit rating agencies have warned Illinois’ credit could slide into junk territory if the legislative session ends in May without a budget deal to get the state’s finances back on track.
Union representing Illinois state nurses has a history of prioritizing union jobs at all costs
Union representing Illinois state nurses has a history of prioritizing union jobs at all costs
Privatizing some medical services provided to inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections could potentially save the state $8 million a year. But the Illinois Nurses Association has a history of doing all it can to keep taxpayers on the hook for that money – and for union jobs that might not even be necessary.
Illinois House passes cursive writing mandate for schools
Illinois House passes cursive writing mandate for schools
House Bill 2977 would require both public elementary schools and high schools to include cursive instruction in their curriculums, and the plan doesn’t include how much this unfunded state mandate would cost taxpayers.
Frank Mautino and the arrogance of Illinois’ political insiders
Frank Mautino and the arrogance of Illinois’ political insiders
State agencies have paid more than $270,000 to Mautino Distributing Company – most of it after Madigan brought Mautino into a leadership role in 2009.
Illinois House passes legislation to expand record sealing
Illinois House passes legislation to expand record sealing
Reforms such as record sealing expansion make it likelier that ex-offenders will be able to find work – and stop cycling in and out of prison. That means they and their families will have a chance to succeed. And the more ex-offenders enter this virtuous cycle – instead of returning to prison – the better off the state and taxpayers will be, too.
Federal investigation exposes Madigan patronage
Federal investigation exposes Madigan patronage
With House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longevity comes a patronage army paid with public dollars.
Illinois stopgap budget
Illinois stopgap budget
Pension board votes to revoke lawmaker pension for Hastert
Pension board votes to revoke lawmaker pension for Hastert
Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert had been receiving nearly $30,000 annually from the underfunded General Assembly Retirement System.