Tax Increment Financing Districts “reinforced the city’s historic economic inequities instead of reducing them — and all of this happened with little transparency or accountability from city planning officials,” according to the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Taxing agencies — including schools, parks, libraries and cities — sent property tax bills totaling $19.9 billion in 2025, 3.9% more than in 2024, according to a new analysis from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ research team.

The Illinois Tollway Board on Wednesday approved a massive 15-year, $26.5 billion capital spending plan that will raise vehicle tolls beginning next year.

An overhaul of the county’s property tax system plagued with problems that created “a cascade effect,” Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle said Tuesday

The state sales tax will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25% from Aug. 7-16, 2026, and local sales taxes will still apply. School supplies, as well as clothing and shoes under $125, are eligible for the lower tax rate.

The Illinois Tollway board is considering a 15-year, $26.5 billion construction plan to address deteriorating roads and reduce congestion across the state’s tollway system.

Second installment property tax bills are typically released in early July and due in early August, but those bills have been repeatedly delayed by an overhaul of the county’s property tax system plagued with problems.

The $56 billion spending plan awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature explicitly prohibits the City Council from imposing a version of the tax that would send new revenue into the city’s cash-strapped coffers.

The budget totals $55.9 billion, supported by a similar amount of revenue. The spending plan included an $830 million supplemental current-year spending plan, meaning the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget is essentially flat.

Illinois could soon reform the state’s regulations on delinquent property tax sales after the House approved a bill 80-35 along party lines Saturday evening that lets homeowners keep their equity.

Some Americans are using taxes to protest the Trump administration — more specifically, the refusal to pay taxes.

A new study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute explores how a 3% surtax on Illinois residents earning $1 million or more per year could impact the state.

Taxing agencies — including schools, parks, libraries and cities — sent property tax bills totaling $19.2 billion in 2024, up more than 180% from the $6.8 billion taxing districts required property owners to pay in 1995, according to the report.

“This is a project that is going to create thousands of jobs and opportunities for the people across the city, but particularly for development on the West Side,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “This is a clear indication that the city of Chicago remains open for business, but we’re just not for sale.”

With the backing of hotel owners and the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, the city’s tax on hotel rooms downtown, near McCormick Place, the Illinois Medical District and Hyde Park will rise from 17.5% to 19%, the highest in the nation.

Two incumbents of a Cook County agency responsible for making decisions about taxpayers’ property assessment appeals faced challengers in their reelection bids this year.