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“Day of Reckoning.” 60 Minutes covers the state budget crises across the nation, paying special attention to the dire situation right here in Illinois.
- Reform report. The Civic Federation, our fiscal watchdog, calls for an overhaul of the Cook County property tax system to make it simpler and fairer. The Sun-Times reports the recommendations also call for consolidating offices of treasurer, clerk and recorder of deeds into one.
- Budget blues. The Trib reports on the budget mess awaiting Chicago’s next mayor—a shortfall approaching $1 billion, according to Inspector General Joe Ferguson. The culprits? Pensions, overspending, too much borrowing and fallout from the recession.
- Water woes. The Trib reports on a troubling study by an independent environmental group that found our drinking water contains three times the acceptable level of a cancer-causing metal, which probably comes from industrial waste.
- Miller’s time. Kristen McQuery’s column in the Southtown Star looks at State Rep. David Miller’s unsuccessful 10-year fight to reform school funding in Illinois. Miller, a south suburban lawmaker and dentist, is leaving the Illinois House next month after losing a race for state treasurer to Judy Baar Topinka.
- Problem perk? It’s finally time to eliminate the controversial practice of Illinois lawmakers handing out college scholarships to whomever they choose, according to an editorial in the Trib.
- Sticker shock? The Sun-Times details a proposal to sell advertising on the back of Chicago vehicle stickers. The new revenue, estimated at $15 million, would be used to hire 100 new cops and knock a fin off the price of a sticker.
