Chris Kennedy, a top Democratic contender for governor, relied on a politically connected tax lawyer to dramatically reduce property tax bills on land he was prepping for development. It appears to mirror the sort of activity Kennedy has been condemning on the campaign trail.
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Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
How To Move From Impasse Illinois To Improving Illinois
Illinois has a budget after two years without one. How do we make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
City, County Residents To Get Louder Voice On Issues
Both Chicago and Cook County, reputably closed off from the public eye, are taking steps toward more public accessibility.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Calculator: What An Illinois Income Tax Hike Means For You
Included in the budget Illinois lawmakers approved on July 6th was a 1.2 percentage point increase in Illinois’ income tax rate. Use our custom-made calculator to figure out how it impacts you and your family.
Posted inLegal
Ruling In BGA Suit Bars Towns From Writing Own Transparency Rules
The Illinois Appellate Court, in a case involving a Rosemont deal with country singer Garth Brooks, says municipalities can’t legislate the power to pick and choose what parts of state open records law they want to follow.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
History Of Hurt: Timeline Of Illinois’ Painful Budget Impasse
A look at the history of the budget impasse and the damage caused by our elected officials’ inability to reach a compromise and approve a budget.
Posted inAction, Analysis, Policy
BGA Testifies For Government Streamlining In Springfield
BGA Policy Analyst Jose Sanchez testified in favor of smart government streamlining in Springfield Monday afternoon.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
It’s Time To Talk About Sharing More At City Hall
Chicago City Council members ought to step back and look around at some other ways they can proactively open up their processes and encourage more public access and participation in city government.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
CPS Over The Years: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
BGA President & CEO Andy Shaw reflects on his rocky, half-century relationship with CPS.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Illinois Is Broke. Why You Should Care About Lawmakers’ Special Session
The governor has called a special session for lawmakers to deliver a budget by the end of the month. We break the budget issues down in a Q&A.