Report: More than one-third of Chicago city workers make more than $100K annually
Report: More than one-third of Chicago city workers make more than $100K annually
Median pay for city workers was nearly $93,000 in 2016.
Illinois House passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships
Illinois House passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships
After failing to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, which stripped a Chicago bailout from the education funding proposal, Illinois House members voted to pass a compromise bill containing the state’s first-ever tax credit scholarship program.
Cook County Board of Review commissioner under investigation for potential ethics violation
Cook County Board of Review commissioner under investigation for potential ethics violation
Ethics officials are petitioning the Cook County Circuit Court to enforce a subpoena seeking information on potential profits obtained by Commissioner Larry Rogers from his law firm’s lawsuits against Cook County government.
Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law Aug. 25 imposing fines for the sale of mislabeled catfish.
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
A bill Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed Aug. 25 would have imposed new regulations and fees upon businesses to enforce trampoline safety measures.
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois school districts spent $1 billion on district-level administration in fiscal year 2014 – more than any other state.
Rahm’s TIF treasure
Rahm’s TIF treasure
Rauner signs bills to expand criminal record sealing and juvenile record expungement
Rauner signs bills to expand criminal record sealing and juvenile record expungement
The new laws will make it easier for ex-offenders re-enter their communities.
Rauner signs bill to end arrests for being seen with alleged gang members
Rauner signs bill to end arrests for being seen with alleged gang members
House Bill 3803 changes Illinois’ criminal code so that people on parole and probation no longer have to fear arrest for merely having contact with gang members.
Burke to the future: Chicago alderman wants to ban self-driving cars
Burke to the future: Chicago alderman wants to ban self-driving cars
Alderman Ed Burke argued in favor of a ban on driverless cars with a movie clip from “Back to the Future.”
Harvey pension crisis shows why local governments need a 401(k) option
Harvey pension crisis shows why local governments need a 401(k) option
The Harvey, Illinois, firefighters’ nearly bankrupt pension fund makes up just one part of Illinois’ combined $267 billion in state and local pension liabilities.
Rauner vetoes proposal for state-owned workers’ compensation insurance provider
Rauner vetoes proposal for state-owned workers’ compensation insurance provider
House Bill 2622 would create a state-run workers’ compensation insurance company, while failing to address the real problems with Illinois’ workers’ compensation system – the most expensive in the region.
Reverse Robin Hood
Reverse Robin Hood
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Since 2006, Chicago Public Schools has been deprived of $2.5 billion in property tax revenue that has been diverted to Chicago TIF districts.