Illinois lawmakers’ late-night budget sets a new spending record financed by more tax hikes on the final day of legislative session.
Lawmakers plan to stop the automatic gas tax increase for six months but plan to use an unexpected $150 million in sales tax from high gas prices to balance the budget rather than benefit taxpayers.
Renewing the state pension buyout for two years means flexibility for retirees and savings for the state.
Kevon Williams does workforce and community work on his native West Side of Chicago.
Thirteen county boards to date have adopted resolutions pushing for the governor to opt into a donor-funded federal program for academic needs.
Clabe Johnson wants to instill a sense of community in the neighborhood’s young men.
Year after year the state budget has diverted money meant for transportation to pay the bills. It’s a good bet the fiscal 2027 budget will do it again.
The proposed Illinois budget gives money to NASCAR and PGA as lawmakers weigh a Bears stadium tax break, putting taxpayers on the hook for private sports costs.
Actuaries say Illinois needs to put in $17 billion a year to fix the plans, but the 2027 plan calls for far less.
Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...
The proposed state budget would pay to develop a new definition in the face of federal changes to the SNAP program.
They are signaling a willingness to raise taxes as the May 31 deadline quickly approaches.