Municipal leaders in suburb get free access to a stadium suite during special events, including concerts and games.
Newsroom
Sticker Shock: Lofty Fees, Low Returns
The mammoth state teachers’ pension fund spent $1.3 billion for 10-years worth of financial expertise. Critics argue that’s way too high; Teachers Retirement System says it’s a cost of doing business.
Is a New Sheriff Coming to Your Town?
As talk of streamlining government intensifies in Cook County, the sheriff suggests that one way to save taxpayer money is for his police force to assume more policing duties from suburban departments.
City Watchdog to Get Sharper Teeth?
What happens if you lie to Chicago’s inspector general? Not a lot, it seems, if you’re a City Clerk employee who was investigated by the in-house watchdog for, among other things, allegedly keeping pornography on his work computer and then lying about it.
Does Obama Need Schooling on Scholarships?
Add President Barack Obama to the list of current and former Illinois lawmakers who may have violated the lone rule of the controversial legislative scholarship program: that the recipient live within the awarding lawmaker’s district.
Ill-Gotten Gains? At CPS, Unused Sick Days Pay Off
As part of the BGA’s Rescuing Illinois project, this investigation is the first in the Education Watch series shining a light on the state’s school systems.
Illinois Human Rights Commission: Top Pay, Benefits for Part-Timers
This is the first in a series of investigations exploring taxpayer-supported and government-sanctioned boards and commissions. It is another component of the BGA’s Rescuing Illinois Project, an ongoing series of in-depth reports about improving and reforming state government.
Special Investigation: Why Townships Don’t Add Up
Spawned during the late 1800s, township governments in suburban Cook County continue to operate at the taxpayers’ expense despite growing evidence that many have outlived their basic usefulness to the public.
Top Illinois Lawmakers Step Up Streamlining Bid
There must be a way that makes it easier to get rid of townships, say some key legislators. The BGA agrees.
Dead End Paying A Big Tab For A Few Highway Miles
The price for maintaining a smattering of roads in unincorporated suburban Cook County is sky-high, when compared to other nearby counties. Critics ask: “Why is this allowed?”