Illinois is a high-tax state
Illinois is a high-tax state
Illinois had the fourth-highest combined state and local tax burden as a share of state income in the country.
Rosemont mayor to receive 53 percent pay hike — to $260,000 a year
Rosemont mayor to receive 53 percent pay hike — to $260,000 a year
Trustees in Rosemont, Ill., voted to hike their mayor’s salary to $260,000 – a 53 percent raise.
Martwick profits from property taxes, complains about lawmaker pay
Martwick profits from property taxes, complains about lawmaker pay
When it comes to touting oneself as a defender of the middle class, actions speak louder than words.
Health care costs consume 25 percent of Illinois’ budget
Health care costs consume 25 percent of Illinois’ budget
Spending on Medicaid has increased 141 percent since 2000, compromising other programs that help the needy.
Chicago utility-tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Chicago utility-tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Under a taxpayer bill of rights, Chicago City Council would have to seek voter approval before raising taxes.
Chicagoans on the hook for $34B in debt from city’s 4 pension funds
Chicagoans on the hook for $34B in debt from city’s 4 pension funds
Chicago’s pension funds’ debt grew by two-thirds to $34 billion in 2015. That’s $33,000 of pension debt per Chicago household.
Illinois state rep calls delayed lawmaker pay ‘extortion and corruption’
Illinois state rep calls delayed lawmaker pay ‘extortion and corruption’
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, criticized payment delays for Illinois politicians, despite the fact that his compensation cost taxpayers nearly $100,000 in 2015.
Number of Chicago city workers making $100K+ has doubled since 2013
Number of Chicago city workers making $100K+ has doubled since 2013
Nearly 5,000 Chicago city workers make six-figure salaries, driving up the payroll and pension costs overtaxed city residents must pay.
Illinois will resume mailing license-plate-renewal reminders
Illinois will resume mailing license-plate-renewal reminders
Due to funds provided through the stopgap budget, the Illinois secretary of state’s office will resume mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in August.
Illinois’ stopgap budget spends $8B more than the state takes in
Illinois’ stopgap budget spends $8B more than the state takes in
Under the stopgap budget, Illinois will spend $8 billion more than it collects in tax revenues; Illinois needs to enact major reforms to rein in its out-of-control spending and avoid billions in tax hikes.
Rauner signs bill to limit local government travel expenses
Rauner signs bill to limit local government travel expenses
New law would tackle wasteful spending by local governments, and be a welcome change for taxpayers.
Peru City Council votes to put township consolidation question on November ballot
Peru City Council votes to put township consolidation question on November ballot
Taxpayers in Peru, Ill. will have the option this November to dissolve their township, which could eliminate waste and ease their tax burden.
The cost of Illinois’ lawmakers
The cost of Illinois’ lawmakers
Illinois lawmakers pay themselves the fifth-highest annual lawmaker base salary in the country.
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
A law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in June allows Chicago to create new transit-based super TIFs, adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to divert and hoard property-tax dollars.