As population drops with tax revenue, counties and other local governments increasingly need to consider consolidation options like they’re doing in DuPage County.
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Posted inAnalysis, Policy
How Will the Next Attorney General Work to Clean Up Illinois?
Candidates for Illinois’ top law post answer the BGA’s questions.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Rauner Ad Rewrites Property Tax History
The governor’s recent campaign ad ignores the fact that property tax levies are set at the local level in Illinois, meaning not even the powerful House speaker gets to pull the strings.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Emanuel Exaggerates What Studies Say About CPS
Chicago’s mayor says Stanford University, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago all declared Chicago Public Schools “the best” among its peers. The reports he cites highlight the district’s growing strengths but don’t go that far.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
State Panel Rejects Rauner Plan to Ease Coal Plant Pollution Rules
The Illinois Pollution Control Board proposed an alternative to governor’s call for easing emission rules on Downstate coal power plants. The new plan loosens controls, but not as much as Rauner sought.
Posted inPress Release
BGA to Celebrate 95th Anniversary with More Than $2 Million Fall Luncheon
The Better Government Association has raised a record-breaking $2 million and more for the nonprofit’s October 16th 95th Anniversary Luncheon. This marks a new milestone as the largest amount raised for a civic luncheon in Chicago history.
Posted inWhat the Gov
What the Gov: Is the Illinois Board of Elections Ready For Hackers in November?
The state diagnosed problems and got federal money to address them. But the election is just weeks away and the state is racing to scale cybersecurity programs statewide, especially for local bodies with the greatest need. It’s unclear whether they’ll get this done by Nov. 6.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Decision Nears On Rauner Plan For Easing Coal Plant Pollution Limits
The Rauner administration seeks to extend a lifeline to a $13 billion energy company, a plan that would lead to more pollution-related deaths and illnesses, opponents warn.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Redistricting, Taxes, Streamlining Government. The BGA’s Candidate Questionnaires Will Teach You What You Need to Know to Vote
Read the candidates’ responses before you head to the polls to make sure your vote is an informed one.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Pritzker’s Flimsy Claim That Rauner Delayed School Funding
Pritzker’s ad suggests Illinois’ protracted budget stalemate held up state aid for K-12 schools and left local property tax payers to pick up the tab, all thanks to Gov. Rauner. But that argument doesn’t quite add up.