Cook County has four separate mosquito abatement districts that cost taxpayers more than $11 million a year. Public officials keep talking about consolidating the districts but are all talk and no action.
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Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
A Towering Problem?
As Cook County residents struggle with staggering property taxes, another politically connected employee at the assessor’s office is caught with improper exemptions on personal property.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Schoolhouse Rocked
Little-known government agency that oversees hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for Lyons Township schools is in turmoil amid questions into its financial practices.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
A Tough Assessment
Cook County assessor’s office launches investigation to determine whether its employees are improperly gaining property tax breaks on their own homes.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
End Pension Scams for Clout Crowd
No public pension fix will ever be complete, or successful, if it doesn’t end the costly and wasteful perks and sweeteners that suburbs, towns and villages dole out to favored workers.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
A Perplexing Pension in Calumet City
Dennis Gianopolus is an attorney for Cal City’s municipal government. But he’s not full-time, and also maintains a private law practice with other clients. So why does he stand to collect a six-figure taxpayer-funded pension some day?
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
City Finally Getting Off Its “Duff” to Set Set-Asides Straight
Chicago’s set-aside program for minority- and women-owned business has made headlines over the years – mostly because contracts have been funneled to companies controlled by non-minority males instead of the people it’s supposed to benefit.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Can We Trust The Infrastructure Trust?
Can We Trust The Infrastructure Trust?
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Numbers Are In! Illinois Leads In Most Government Bodies
Illinois has more units of government than any other state and activists’ efforts to reduce that number have come up short.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
What’s the Point of Townships?
What does a township actually do besides collect taxes to maintain its existence? Not much, according to many government experts.