Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest
Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest
Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.
Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency
Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency
The Chicago Teachers Union hasn’t released an annual audit, required by its internal rules, for at least four fiscal years. What’s happening with members’ dues?
The Policy Shop: How much potential does Illinois have?
The Policy Shop: How much potential does Illinois have?
This episode of The Policy Shop is by Director of Policy Research Joseph Tabor. During the social turmoil of the 1960s, a happy, dancing pop group emerged to emphasize unity and harmony: Up With People. “If more people were for people, All people ev’rywhere, There’d be a lot less people to worry about, And a...
DAILY LINKS / 9.27.2024
The Center Square: Pritzker: Illinois employment picture improving, despite state’s high jobless rate Chicago Sun-Times: Illinois voters will consider whether millionaires should be taxed more to fund property tax relief The Chicago Tribune: State agency lacks data to back $6 million in unemployment claims, audit finds The Daily Herald: What’s happened to crime rates, court-skipping since cash bail went away? The State Journal-Register: U.S. News 2025 top colleges list is out. Here's how Illinois schools rank364,443 Illinoisans fell out of love with Illinois, moved away since 2020
364,443 Illinoisans fell out of love with Illinois, moved away since 2020
Illinois will celebrate this Valentine’s Day knowing it broke up with 364,443 people since 2020. While they moved out for now, lower taxes could win them back.
Our perspective: Chicago should use all federal COVID funds before hiking taxes for housing problems
Our perspective: Chicago should use all federal COVID funds before hiking taxes for housing problems
Before asking voters to approve a “mansion tax,” why not tap unspent federal pandemic aid dollars to reduce homelessness?
Brandon Johnson’s policies are heartbreaking
Brandon Johnson’s policies are heartbreaking
Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships
Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships
State lawmakers failed to save the Invest in Kids program allowing nearly 10,000 low-income students to attend a school that better fit their needs. Now some of those schools are being forced to close and families are left with poor options.
Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members
Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members
The Chicago Teachers Union for decades pushed to elect the school board, but with their former employee in the mayor’s office they rather he choose most of the board for a little while longer.
Vallas: Mayor Johnson should learn from LA that ‘mansion tax’ is a failure
Vallas: Mayor Johnson should learn from LA that ‘mansion tax’ is a failure
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mansion tax idea failed in Los Angeles, something his recent trip there should have shown him. Here’s why it promises to drag down Chicago businesses in an already hostile environment and shift costs to homeowners.
Sherronda Booker
Sherronda Booker
“2020, after volunteering at my children’s school for so long, I was offered a job in the lunchroom. I think the wage was maybe $13 an hour. I am also a licensed cosmetologist who was not actively doing hair because I was more focused on raising my three children.” “$13-an-hour was not enough to live...
Underachiever: Illinois lags nation in jobs, but growth potential is high
Underachiever: Illinois lags nation in jobs, but growth potential is high
2023 data on Illinois’ labor market gives cause for both concern and hope as state emerges from pandemic job losses.
New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans
New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans
The bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Ozinga would redirect savings from shrinking pension payments to support local school districts and reduce Illinois’ second-in-the -nation property taxes. Some districts could see their tax bills cut in half.
Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic
Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic
Editor’s note: There is a lot of information coming at you every day, but not a lot of context. The Illinois Policy Institute is launching "Our Perspective" to give you our take on topics of the day so you can better shape your take on them.