Health & Fitness

Budget report: 1/4 of Illinois budget goes to pensions

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS The Civic Federation's Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability has issued a detailed analysis of the current state budget. The good news: By June 30, Illinois will be a mere $5.8 billion behind in paying its bills. That's a lot better than the $8.8 billion were were behind just three months ago. The bad news: Almost 1/4 of the budget goes into public employee pensions. The report is packed with charts that'll give you a concise summary of Illinois' financial picture. I point out a few highlights and we've got the whole report here. It's not as much fun as "Harry Potter," but definitely worth skimming for a good snapshot of the infinitely complex world of the Illinois state budget.

SOUND OFF FOR PENSION REFORM If you go to the Civic Federation report, be sure to check out the chart that shows the state's ever-escalating pension obligations in the years to come. Spending a fourth of our budget on pensions (and sending that money into funds on a fast track to insolvency) is a serious problem. It's why we need a pension reform bill that will bring significant savings while also protecting the retirement security of the employees and retirees who rely on the state's pension systems. Click here!

"IT'S WHO YOU KNOW" Reboot Illinois Chief Operating Officer Madeleine Doubek today presents another episode of the ever-popular Illinois game "It's Who You Know." This week's edition stars those who know the Speaker of the House and the director of the Illinois State Lottery. These week's winners take home an attractive array of public relations contracts. Tune in here to learn more!

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STOP CRONYISM Government officials shouldn't constitute a special class of connected elite with unique access to our tax dollars. Help us send that message. Click here and sign our petition!

LIST OF THE DAY: SALES TAX BY CITY Which of Illinois' top 25 largest cities has the highest and lowest sales taxes? (Hint: You'll save by shopping in Naperville instead of Chicago.) We've compiled them in today's Top 25. As a bonus, you'll learn the populations of the 25 biggest cities in Illinois. So much information and it's all right here.

Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ABUSE OR FAIRNESS? Yesterday we featured an op-ed by the head of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch arguing that Illinois has an unfairly lawsuit-friendly culture that hurts small business. The president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association has a distinctly different perspective. "Lawsuit abuse is a myth propagated by those who self-interestedly put profits before people," writes Steven D. Phillips. He says ILAW is "supported by, and fronts for, the insurance, tobacco and oil industries, and has shown itself willing to say anything to scare citizens from using courts to pursue justice against wrongdoers that shirk responsibility for their harmful actions." Read more here.

SOUND OFF If you've already used it, you know how easy our new Sound Off tool makes it for you to find your lawmakers and send them a message on numerous topics. If you haven't, or you want a better understanding of what Sound Off is and how it works, Madeleine Doubek explains it all in this post. Read it and Sound Off!

HEADLINES Here's what's making news in Illinois today:

  • 5. Chicago Public Schools announced it will not close any school over the next five years for academic or enrollment issues – but can close schools for other reasons. (Chicago Sun-Times)
    4. Two GOP candidates said they would have done the same thing as Pat Quinn did when he suspended lawmakers’ pay, but two other candidates did not support the move. (The Southern Illinoisan)
    3. Illinois’ Affordable Care Act rollout got off to a rocky start. (Chicago Tribune)
    2. Agricultural giant Archer Daniels Midland is asking for almost $24 million in tax breaks to keep its headquarters in Illinois. (Chicago Tribune)
    1. GOP candidate Bruce Rauner is out-raising, and out-spending, his opponents so far. (Chicago Sun-Times)
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