Vincent Caruso, Illinois Policy Institute News
Proposal would make Illinois gas tax burden the highest in the nation
Springfield is facing mounting pressure to enact a massive state gas tax hike. One proposal would make the average motorist pay as much as $200 per year in additional taxes on gas.
Worker freedom: More than 3,700 Illinois state workers stopped paying money to a union in 2018
Of the more than 3,700 Illinois state workers who stopped sending part of every paycheck to a union, 2,800 stopped sending their money to AFSCME.
Rahm to Springfield: Gas tax need to at least double
Departing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel accelerated calls to boost Illinois’ gas tax to pay for local transportation projects.
Chicago to state lawmakers: ‘Seize the opportunity’ for gas tax hike
Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is looking to make inroads on an increase in Illinois’ gas tax.
Nearly 80 percent of Alton property tax levy consumed by pensions
The share of Alton’s annual property tax levy going to pension payments has more than doubled over the past decade.
Godfrey voters to choose whether to dissolve township on their November ballots
A referendum asking voters whether to dissolve Godfrey Township will appear on ballots Nov. 6.
Township consolidation referendum to appear on Alton ballots
Alton voters will face two referendums that could eliminate government layers at both the township and county levels.
Illinois’ income growth second-worst in the nation
Amid two record-breaking income tax hikes, growing property tax bills and population decline, the Land of Lincoln’s income growth is trailing the rest of the nation.
St. Clair County property taxes nearly doubled over last 20 years
Property taxpayers in St. Clair County have seen home values swamped by property taxes over the past 20 years.
3 ways Illinois can improve its property tax assessment system
The method by which local governments calculate Illinoisans’ property tax bills is broken. Here’s how Springfield can fix it.
Belleville residents picking up huge tab for work comp payouts
Illinois industry shoulders the burden of the highest workers’ compensation costs in the region. But what many Illinoisans paying some of the nation’s highest property taxes may not realize is that they’re picking up the tab for those costs, too.
Alton voters will choose whether to eliminate township in November
Alton residents are paying for two overlapping units of government – the city of Alton and Alton Township. But voters will soon have the chance to slash costs by dissolving the city’s redundant township.
East Alton eyes $35K in savings, but pension woes loom much larger
Severely underwater public safety pensions have already derailed the finances of other municipalities, such as Harvey and North Chicago.
Belleville has seen sharpest population decline among top Illinois cities since 2010
As Illinois struggles to address its people problem, population loss has plagued communities across the Land of Lincoln. But the shrinkage in some areas has been more severe than others.
Belleville school districts are ripe for consolidation
Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the country, many of which are duplicative and overlapping. In Belleville, where the majority of the city’s school districts cover fewer students than the state average, consolidation efforts could boost efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars.
Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds
Two township administrators took state grant funds intended for a summer youth program to cover up for illegal credit card purchases.
Study: Illinois home to highest overall tax burden in the nation
A recent study confirms what too many Illinoisans have discovered firsthand: that they’re among the most overburdened taxpayers in the country.
Your office March Madness pool is illegal, but these bills could change that
The illicit practice of gambling on sports in Illinois is enormously popular – and that might help spur change.
Progressive tax proponents display magical thinking
Advocates for a progressive income tax claim to offer relief for middle-class families. But that doesn’t jive with real proposals in Springfield or lawmakers’ spending habits.
Kiss-off: Too many Illinoisans breaking up with the state
Every relationship comes with some sacrifices. But for an alarming number of Illinoisans, they're opting instead to sacrifice their state IDs.