Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute News
Property taxes on 'Home Alone' house jump 57% in 1 year
The current owners Kevin McCallister’s house from “Home Alone” will pay more than $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation on average.
Illinois’ 2nd-highest gas taxes drive up Thanksgiving travel costs
More than 55 million people are traveling for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA. Illinois motorists can avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes by filling up in other states.
Illinois city outlaws trick-or-treating beyond age 12
Some Illinois communities see regulating any mischief on Halloween as a real treat. Belleville prohibits anyone older than 12 from trick-or-treating, with fines up to $1,000.
Kit Kat, Twix cost less because Halloween treat taxes are tricky in Illinois
A spooky statute in Illinois says sweets made with flour aren’t candy. Halloween shoppers can dodge Illinois’ higher candy tax by checking ingredients.
No election? No break on Illinois back-to-school supplies
Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee are all having back-to-school sales tax holidays. Not Illinois, where state leaders saw the need during the 2022 election.
Unhappy anniversary: Illinois income tax hike is 6 years old
Six years after state lawmakers made history by passing Illinois’ largest permanent income tax hike, residents in every tax bracket are leaving.
Illinoisans get 2nd gas tax hike of 2023 just before Independence Day
Illinoisans face the second gas tax hike of 2023 on July 1. The 3.1 cent hike doesn’t need lawmaker approval, thanks to state leaders implementing automatic gas tax hikes.
Illinois grocery tax returns July 1
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s temporary tax relief expires July 1 when Illinois reinstates the grocery tax instead of joining the 37 states that don’t tax groceries at all.
Lawmakers scrap scholarship program for 9,000 working class families in new budget
The Illinois General Assembly is poised to pass a budget without extending the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program, which allows 9,000 low-income students to attend a school of their choice. The program expires Dec. 31.
2nd Pritzker gas tax hike this year to hit Illinois drivers July 1
Illinoisans face the second gas tax hike of 2023 on July 1. The 3.1 cent hike doesn’t need lawmaker approval, thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker implementing automatic gas tax hikes.
Illinois' Covid disaster ends after 1,155 days
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 42nd and final disaster proclamation has expired after 1,155 days in a state of emergency. Illinois was 1 of only 6 states still under emergency orders because of the pandemic.
Illinois politicians want extra $25M for Democratic National Convention security in Chicago
Illinois’ congressional Democrats asked for an additional $25 million to pay for security at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Host cities typically receive $50 million.
April 4 voter warning: Ballot selfies are a felony in Illinois
Voters wanting to show their Election Day pride should be careful. Sharing a voting-booth selfie on social media is a felony in Illinois.
Illinois families pay highest state, local taxes in nation
A new WalletHub study found the typical household in Illinois pays 15% of its income to state and local taxes, the highest in the nation. That’s an average of $10,463 – a 22% hike since 2017.
Pritzker pushes cash to keep teachers in Illinois schools
Gov. J.B. Pritzker introduced a Teacher Pipeline Grant Program to address teacher vacancies, but getting more money into classrooms rather than it chasing retirement debt is a better solution.
3 years after COVID-19 hit, Pritzker declares 40th emergency order
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared COVID-19 a disaster in Illinois for the 40th time. Illinois is 1 of only 6 states still using COVID-19 to declare a public health emergency.
3 bills would punish corrupt politicians in Illinois
A package of anti-corruption bills were introduced in the Illinois Senate: one prohibits lawmakers from using campaign money to pay for legal defense, another fines felonious politicians $100,000 and one takes away their specialty license plates.
Pritzker to end Illinois' emergency orders after more than 3 years
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he will follow President Biden and end Illinois’ disaster declarations on May 11. Most states long ago quit using emergency powers, leaving Illinois as 1 of 7 states still claiming COVID-19 is a public health emergency.
Pritzker fact check: Illinoisans pay 4th-highest college tuition in nation
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is making free college a priority in his second term. Tuition is driven up by pension costs, which Pritzker routinely ignores.
Illinois state senator pushing progressive tax voters rejected
An Illinois state senator is reviving an effort to change Illinois’ income tax structure from a flat tax, even though voters soundly defeated the change in 2020. Expect higher taxes, retirement taxes if he gets his way.