June, 2017 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

A-C Central Community Unit School District 262 placed on financial "Recognition" list by state board of education

By Local Labs News Service | Jun 29, 2017

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed A-C Central Community Unit School District 262 on its financial "Recognition" list.

Auburn High School post test results

By Local Labs News Service | Jun 29, 2017

Auburn High School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The price of local government: Village of Berlin

By Local Labs News Service | Jun 29, 2017

The Village of Berlin budget was $54,672 for its 2015 fiscal year, or $770.03 per household.

Analysis: Sales tax funded 8 percent of City of Springfield budget in 2016

By Local Labs News Service | Jun 29, 2017

The City of Springfield's local sales tax brought in $42,253,155 in 2016, according to Illinois State Comptroller revenue data.

Who are Auburn Township's highest-paid employees?

By Local Labs News Service | Jun 29, 2017

Here are the 5 highest-paid employees of Auburn Township, according to 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records:

Time to pass a budget, GOP tells Madigan with countdown clock

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 29, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party started a budget countdown clock on its Boss Madigan website a day after the 10-day special session began on June 21.

Compliance tool could make molehill out of mountain of Illinois regulations

By Chandra Lye | Jun 29, 2017

Researchers at George Mason University's Mercatus Center have developed what they claim is a faster and easier method for poring through state and federal regulations.

Appropriations bill uses statewide money for Sangamon County projects

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 28, 2017

The Illinois General Assembly is looking to pass a bill that earmarks $166.5 million for various projects in lawmakers home districts across the state.

Media blasts Dem-controlled assembly: $111 for 30 minutes?

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 28, 2017

The state and national press picked apart the Democratically controlled Illinois House and Senate for returning to Springfield for a special session that lasted approximately a half hour on Day 1, according to the lllinois Republican Party.

House rejects move to merge agencies, streamline discrimination cases

By Kacie Whaley | Jun 28, 2017

More than 1,000 pending discrimination in Illinois will continue to wait their turn in line after the House voted recently not to combine the Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Illinois Department of Human Rights (DHR), according to a state press release.

Madigan unveils 'imperfect' budget with tax hikes, some reform

By Hoang Tran | Jun 28, 2017

With a Friday deadline fast approaching, Democrats revealed their version of a budget on Tuesday that House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) called a compromise despite leaving out several reforms Republicans had demanded.

Illinois GOP sends letters to House Democrats asking them to stand up for property tax freeze

By Carrie Bradon | Jun 28, 2017

Twenty-seven House Democrats recently received letters from the Illinois Republican Party, drawing their attention to the permanent property tax freeze they voted for in January and calling for action on property tax relief now.

Escaping Illinoisans sound common call: Anywhere but here

By Russell Boniface | Jun 28, 2017

Imagining the Midwest as one big balloon with Illinois in the center might help illustrate what has happened recently: The middle of the balloon is being squished, meaning the rest of the balloon is expanding.

Economist says something's got to give: pensions or public schools

By Karen Kidd | Jun 28, 2017

Public sector employees and retirees might accept less than their constitutionally protected pensions if they understand it's them or public education, an economist said on a recent Chicago-based radio show.

Policy pro urges Rauner to stick to his guns on reforms

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 27, 2017

Democrats in the General Assembly have accused Gov. Bruce Rauner of trying to push nonbudgetary reforms through in this year’s budget negotiations, but the Illinois Policy Institute’s Michael Lucci contends that Rauner’s cost-cutting measures are a necessary part of any successful budget.

Sangamon County Building and Grounds Committee met June 26

By Corazon L. Gonzales | Jun 27, 2017

Sangamon County Building and Grounds Committee met 5 p.m. Monday, June 26.

Illinois case described as possible harbinger of union fate

By Karen Kidd | Jun 27, 2017

An Illinois case against the state's largest private-sector employee union that was recently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court could bring sweeping change to the entire nation, the president of an organization helping to back the plaintiffs in the case said on a recent radio talk show.