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By Dave Koehler
My sincere thanks to the Peoria Journal Star for the editorial series on the problems facing the state of Illinois. I appreciated the historical look at how we got here and how the lack of a budget has resulted in the crisis now before us. I find myself in agreement with what has been stated, as I will further explain:
The Chicago Housing Authority’s controversial proposal to limit the amount of time voucher holders can receive housing subsidies is expected to be rolled out later this year.
According to the CHA’s review of families who took part in the Family Self Sufficiency Program in 2013, 67 percent
State Rep. Scott Drury, left, and Ralph Martire, right, of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability spoke during a forum in Lake Forest on April 10. (Mark Lawton
Ken Davis is joined by Bobby Otter, Budget Director for the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. They discuss the deeply troubling state of finances at
CHICAGO - A case scheduled to go before the Illinois Supreme Court this week is challenging the law that allows the state's not-for-profit hospitals to skip paying property taxes.
Applications for hospital property tax exemptions have been in limbo for about a year while the courts
Last week, Gov. Bruce Rauner called for a meeting with the four legislative leaders to negotiate a General Fund budget for Illinois. Normally, that wouldn't generate headlines or news coverage.
Of course, nothing's normal when it comes to state budgetary matters, given that 18 months have transpired — including one full fiscal year — without a comprehensive General Fund budget having been passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor.
Certainly, the governor and General Assembly should come together and enact a comprehensive General Fund budget. After all, doing so is the very essence of their responsibility to the public, given that more than 90 percent of General Fund spending on current services covers the four core areas of education, health care, human services and public safety. Oh, it also happens to be their constitutional obligation, so there's that. Moreover, based on what happened last year (fiscal year 2016), failing to enact a General Fund budget generates numerous consequences, none good.
Solving the school funding problem is simple. The state needs to raise taxes. Simple. Problem solved.
That was the message delivered by Ralph Martire, an expert on school funding, at a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County on Oct. 20 at the Batavia Public
Voters on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Illinois Constitution requiring that gas taxes, license plate fees and other transportation-related revenue be spent only on transportation expenses.
The amendment, which creates a so-called “lockbox” for transportation funds, had broad
With Election Day just around the corner, public policy organizations are urging voters to proceed with caution on a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would create a “lockbox” for transportation funding.
As one example, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability,
While the presidential race dominates headlines, important things are happening at the state and local