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.
1,120 of the jobs lost were in manufacturing and food processing.
Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.
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 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.
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...
The Lakewood Village Board’s decision to end a 2015 TIF district is a win for local taxpayers.
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.
As property tax bills land in mailboxes in Madison and St. Clair counties, TIF districts sap local tax dollars.
Although Illinois hosts corporate headquarters of many large companies, its economy lags in blue-collar job opportunities.
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.
The size of Illinois’ pension crisis requires even bolder pension reform that includes 401(k)-style plans for public employees.