Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House
Property-tax freeze bill passes Illinois House
House Bill 696 would freeze property taxes across the state. Under the plan, local governments could still increase rates, but only with approval from voters. The bill doesn’t apply to home-rule governments, however. That’s no small exemption: 7.8 million Illinoisans live in a home-rule municipality such Chicago, Naperville or Peoria. This number also doesn’t account for Cook County, which is also home-rule, and would be exempted from this property-tax freeze.
By Hilary Gowins
AFSCME impasse hearings: Understanding the timeline, process and potential outcomes
AFSCME impasse hearings: Understanding the timeline, process and potential outcomes
Given AFSCME’s and the Rauner administration’s disagreement on core contract issues – such as wage freezes and merit pay – and the likely appeal of any impasse decision reached by the administrative law judge, a final determination on whether AFSCME and the Rauner administration have reached impasse will probably not come until well into the summer – or beyond.
By Mailee Smith
Palatine-area District 15’s new 10-year contract ‘unprecedented’
Palatine-area District 15’s new 10-year contract ‘unprecedented’
Residents of suburban Chicago’s Community Consolidated School District 15 have seen their incomes remain flat – or drop. Meanwhile, school district officials have committed these same taxpayers to fund a 10-year contract, which the public has never seen.
By Mailee Smith
Jobs are the ultimate crime stoppers
Jobs are the ultimate crime stoppers
Illinois taxpayers will pay about $5.7 billion over the next five years in costs related to ex-offenders returning to prison.
By Austin Berg
It’s time Illinois ends civil asset forfeiture
It’s time Illinois ends civil asset forfeiture
Michigan, Minnesota and now Nebraska have reformed civil asset forfeiture – it’s time Illinois followed suit.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
4 statements reveal that Cullerton doesn’t understand Illinois’ workers’ compensation system
4 statements reveal that Cullerton doesn’t understand Illinois’ workers’ compensation system
Illinois has the most expensive system in the Midwest for workers' compensation.
By Michael Lucci
Progressive-tax proposal would favor corporations over small businesses, give Illinois 2nd-highest small business tax in U.S.
Progressive-tax proposal would favor corporations over small businesses, give Illinois 2nd-highest small business tax in U.S.
Under Lang’s plan, Illinois’ top tax rate for noncorporate businesses would become 11.25 percent — the second-highest rate in the U.S.
By Michael Lucci
Illinois progressive-tax proposal is a middle-class tax hike in disguise
Illinois progressive-tax proposal is a middle-class tax hike in disguise
A progressive tax would give Illinois politicians carte blanche to raise rates, which would end up sticking middle-class taxpayers with rates originally intended for “the rich” – all while chasing still more residents and businesses out of the state.
By Mark Adams
Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill
Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill
HB 5937 prohibits the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from barring former offenders from working in these areas unless their crimes directly relate to the occupations for which they seek licenses. A job is crucial to preventing repeat offenses: Nearly half of ex-offenders in Illinois end up back behind bars within three years, but ex-offenders who are employed a year after release can have a recidivism rate as low as 16 percent.
Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities
Illinois House votes down statewide property-tax freeze, passes plan that exempts vast majority of communities
The Illinois House of Representatives voted against a proposal to freeze property taxes, denying much-needed relief to Illinoisans, who bear the third-highest property-tax burden in the nation.
By Hilary Gowins