Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes
Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes
Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending.
By Bryce Hill, Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland
State leaders rely on budget gimmicks and short-term fixes and they assume speculative proposals will become law and operate exactly as planned just to balance the books, if only on paper. Transparent, laws-on-the-books-based modeling is the only path to long-term stability.
By Ravi Mishra
Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations
Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations
As state lawmakers finalize the 2026 budget, public sector unions are pushing for major benefit spikes for Tier 2 pensioners to be included in last-minute additions.
By Bryce Hill
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks
With the budget facing a potential $1.2 billion deficit, some ideas on the table include taxing deliveries from companies such as Amazon and digital ads.
By Ravi Mishra
Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall
Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall
Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties.
By Patrick Andriesen
What to expect as lawmakers rush to pass 2026 budget
What to expect as lawmakers rush to pass 2026 budget
State lawmakers have given themselves until May 31 to pass the state’s upcoming budget, here’s what might be included.
By Bryce Hill
Pritzker grows state spending most among past 5 Illinois governors
Pritzker grows state spending most among past 5 Illinois governors
Gov. J.B. Pritzker increased Illinois’ state spending more during his first six state budgets than any other state leader in terms of raw dollars since Gov. George Ryan, who took office more than 25 years ago.
By Patrick Andriesen
Allan Luzbetak
Allan Luzbetak
Allan Luzbetak has lived in the Lockport, Illinois area for decades; but concerns over rising property taxes could push him out of the state as he enters retirement. He explains his disappointment with community leaders’ approach to spending, and why it tempts so many people in situations like his to leave the state. “I’ve lived...
Illinois cities should learn from Rockford when it comes to spending
Illinois cities should learn from Rockford when it comes to spending
Since 2017, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara has cut the property tax rate to 1.93% by cutting costs and spending smarter – a playbook other Illinois cities should copy.
By LyLena Estabine
Lawmakers should look outside of Springfield when choosing a fiscal watchdog
Lawmakers should look outside of Springfield when choosing a fiscal watchdog
Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino is retiring after a 10-year term of monitoring public spending. The scrutiny his own campaign spending drew should have lawmakers rethink how they choose his replacement.
By Joe Tabor
Illinois’ corporate tax already too high, but Springfield pushes for more
Illinois’ corporate tax already too high, but Springfield pushes for more
If Illinois state lawmakers follow the Chicago Teachers Union’s push for a 7.92% base corporate tax rate, it can severely hurt Illinois’ competitiveness. Job creators do not need another reason to abandon Illinois.
By Ravi Mishra
Batinick: Enrollment falls across Illinois universities, but prices keep climbing
Batinick: Enrollment falls across Illinois universities, but prices keep climbing
Illinois’ university system is losing students to other states as prices per student top the nation. The system and its funding need an overhaul, but state leaders instead are considering letting community colleges create even more competition.
By Mark Batinick
State board of education recommends lowering student proficiency standards
State board of education recommends lowering student proficiency standards
Illinois students are struggling to meet proficiency standards on state assessments. Instead of working to improve student learning, the state wants to lower standards to hide the crisis.
By Hannah Schmid
U.S. House passes federal school choice program, moves to Senate
U.S. House passes federal school choice program, moves to Senate
The Educational Choice for Children Act continues to progress after it was included in the budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House on May 22. It is cause for hope for 15,000 low-income Illinois students who lost their private-school scholarships in 2023.
By Hannah Schmid