House Republicans’ 4-year property tax freeze fails homeowners
House Republicans’ 4-year property tax freeze fails homeowners
Local spending drivers need to be reformed to truly relieve taxpayers of Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes.
House Republicans’ pension plan not the solution Illinois needs
House Republicans’ pension plan not the solution Illinois needs
Illinois needs to begin an end to its pension crisis by expanding access to a standalone 401(k)-style plan to all government workers; the new proposal by the House GOP does not accomplish this.
Illinois companies announce more than 2,100 mass layoffs in May
Illinois companies announce more than 2,100 mass layoffs in May
1,120 of the jobs lost were in manufacturing and food processing.
Where have all the new homes gone?
Where have all the new homes gone?
Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.
Canary in the Illinois coal mine
Canary in the Illinois coal mine
Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion
Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion
The Republican plan hits Illinoisans in fiscal year 2018 with the same $5 billion-plus tax hike from the “grand bargain” plan that failed in May. That plan starts with a 33 percent income tax increase, and includes questionable new taxes on services such as Netflix, laundry services and more.
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears Holdings has dropped below the job threshold necessary to qualify for the $15 million in annual state tax credits for which it was once eligible.
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake – united by nature, divided on paper
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake – united by nature, divided on paper
Lake County lies about 40 miles north of Chicago’s congested urban landscape. With more than 100 lakes within county lines, the place is aptly named and offers a stark contrast to the nearby city. The Rev. Lisle Kauffman, looking over one of those lakes – Round Lake – still admires it more than four decades...
Lakewood, Ill., votes to eliminate TIF district
Lakewood, Ill., votes to eliminate TIF district
The Lakewood Village Board’s decision to end a 2015 TIF district is a win for local taxpayers.
Illinois’ economic growth is worse than during the Great Depression
Illinois’ economic growth is worse than during the Great Depression
Illinois’ total state economic activity has increased by only 4 percent since 2007, which is lower than the U.S.’ 10 percent GDP growth during the worst decade of the Great Depression.
Madigan sends Drury on a fishing trip
Madigan sends Drury on a fishing trip
Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville
Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville
As property tax bills land in mailboxes in Madison and St. Clair counties, TIF districts sap local tax dollars.
Illinois has 4th-most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in U.S.
Illinois has 4th-most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in U.S.
Although Illinois hosts corporate headquarters of many large companies, its economy lags in blue-collar job opportunities.
Moody’s downgrades 7 Illinois universities, 5 are junk
Moody’s downgrades 7 Illinois universities, 5 are junk
Illinois universities have hiked tuition and relied on state subsidies to pay for exorbitant administrative salaries — and now credit rating agencies are punishing them for that destructive behavior.