School district consolidation a step toward much-needed property tax relief
School district consolidation a step toward much-needed property tax relief
Illinois has 859 local school districts – the fifth-most in the nation.
The SEIU is hurting Illinois caregivers
The SEIU is hurting Illinois caregivers
Since 2014, nearly 12,000 Illinois caregivers have stopped paying SEIU costing the union $4.4 million in dues and fees.
AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford
AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford
AFSCME’s push for HB 580, which would allow a panel of unelected arbitrators to draft a binding contract between the state and the union, is the latest power play in AFSCME’s long and uncompromising battle for pay hikes and benefits that could cost Illinois taxpayers more than $3 billion.
Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average
Illinois property taxes highest in the US, double national average
Illinois homeowners are struggling under the weight of the nation’s highest property-tax bills, according to a new analysis.
Illinois Local Government Distributive Fund
Illinois Local Government Distributive Fund
Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis
Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis
Illinois’ public colleges and universities used to be affordable, but schools have increased tuition from 74-112 percent over the last decade to help pay for administrative hiring sprees and skyrocketing pensions.
Labor board finds CTU’s April 1 strike likely illegal
Labor board finds CTU’s April 1 strike likely illegal
The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board determined there is enough evidence of the illegality of CTU’s April 1 walkout for CPS to pursue a court order to prevent CTU from waging any similar strikes.
Progressive tax would introduce marriage penalty into Illinois tax code
Progressive tax would introduce marriage penalty into Illinois tax code
Replacing Illinois’ fair, flat income tax with a progressive tax would mean that some married couples with both spouses working would pay more in state income taxes than if they remained single.
Illinois’ tax shell games means taxpayers can’t hold their governments accountable
Illinois’ tax shell games means taxpayers can’t hold their governments accountable
In 2015 alone, Illinois state government redistributed more than $12 billion in income and other taxes to local governments. These financial shell games have created a needlessly complex system and make it difficult for local taxpayers to hold their governments accountable.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.