West Cook County taxpayers would see a total of $230 million in state income tax increases if a tax hike measure passed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois State Senate becomes law.
Senate Bill 1, a bill that would affect school funding, passed the Illinois Senate last week. According to an analysis by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) obtained by West Cook News, 26 West Cook County schools would lose some of their funding, while 12 schools would see an increase.
Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is demanding a state investigation after the Kankakee Times reported on the anticipated district-by-district financial impact of his Senate Bill 1, which promises to change the state's formula for dispensing money to public schools.
As a state lawmaker, Frank Mautino paid nearly $12,500 in campaign fund cash to a man named Joe without keeping any supporting receipts, according to a government oversight group.
Financial expert Mark Glennon of Wilmette says in his analysis of a new study on state and local pensions that the options available to reduce the substantial obligations facing Illinois funds include amending the state constitution or going through federal bankruptcy.
Illinoisans pay more in total taxes than anyone else in the nation, so any thoughts about adding to that burden need to be forgotten, a tax analyst argued recently.