Stories by Brendan Bakala, Illinois Policy Institute on Madison - St. Clair Record

East St. Louis’ police and fire pension funds experienced large funding shortfalls in 2016, putting the city at risk of revenue garnishment from the state comptroller’s office.

Some Madison County townships could see their costs go up, which could drive up property taxes.

Belleville residents had the opportunity to sound off at a public hearing regarding a proposed 11.98 percent increase in the city’s property tax levy.

The politically motivated freeze would not address key cost drivers or protect Illinois homeowners from property tax increases.

Cities and villages across the state are raising taxes or implementing new ones for a variety of functions, from attracting a fast-food restaurant to catching up on rising pension costs.

Recently released census data reveal that St. Clair and Madison counties saw combined population losses of more than 1,600 people due to out-migration to other states.

State and local costs for workers’ compensation are out of line with what other states pay.

Pressure is mounting on lawmakers in Springfield to go along with a “compromise” budget plan that would raise income taxes on every Illinoisan. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, have thrown their support behind a proposed budget plan that would raise state income taxes to 4.95 percent from the current level of 3.75 percent.

Though spending on government-worker salaries and pensions has grown at a rapid rate, many service providers and grant recipients are still awaiting payment.

2016 was a tough year for the owners of 671 Lincoln Ave. The red-brick, Georgian house in Winnetka, Ill., was made famous by the 1990 Christmas hit, “Home Alone,” but in real life, it’s not crowbar-wielding burglars coming for the family’s money, but the Cook County government.

Illinois’ unpaid bills could reach new highs by summer 2017.

Illinois’ preliminary jobs report shows the unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 percent in July due to large numbers of residents dropping out of the labor force for the third consecutive month.