Tag: Illinois Policy Instititute

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Job Losses Continue

By: Diane Benjamin Another 1480 jobs have been lost so far in April. https://www.illinoisworknet.com/LayoffRecovery/Pages/IllinoisWARNData.aspx In February, Illinois unemployment was much higher than surrounding states. That likely continued in March with another 2080 layoffs reported according to the above link: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-unemployment-rate-ties-for-3rd-worst-in-the-nation/ . April Reported Layoffs to Date: Resilience Healthcare – West Suburban Medical Center, LLC3 Erie […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why is Wesleyan getting $1 million in the State budget?

By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/waste-watch-illinois-gives-500000-to-health-advocacy-non-profit/ Type Bloomington in the SEARCH to see what Illinois budgeted. Wesleyan isn’t the only non-government entity getting money. Is Wesleyan discounting tuition to local residents too much to fund their own projects or did the local reps decide to gift them your money? . Next type Normal in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

McLean County Earmarks in Illinois Budget

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/waste-watch-illinois-gives-12m-to-nascar/ Excerpts: Lawmakers claimed the 2026 budget contained no pork, but a closer look shows 2,815 items over $200,000 lawmakers decided to fund in the final hours of the legislative session – rushed, harmful to taxpayers and with no time for public scrutiny. They included $40 million for a high school sports complex at the alma mater of Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why can’t 3rd graders read? Don’t Blame COVID

By: Diane Benjamin More on this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/12/04/can-your-3rd-grader-read-likely-no-in-public-school/ The 3rd graders tested last spring weren’t affected by school closings during COVID. They weren’t old enough to be in school. They were in: 3rd grade – 2024/2025 2nd grade – 2023/2024 1st grade – 2022/2023 Kindergarten – 2021/2022 Illinois schools were closed for COVID in March […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Grants over $200K in Illinois’ 2026 budget – McLean County

By: Diane Benjamin Why are tax dollars going to private institutions? Why did Unit 5 and District 87 get money for facilities when they conned people into voting for a 1% Sales Tax? Evidently no one on this list is capable of living within budgets based on the needs and ability of the people they […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Housing price: 2018 vrs 2025

By: Diane Benjamin With all the local taxing bodies raising property taxes, the cost of rent and homes will continue to rise. You are being taxed on unrealized gains. Your home is worth more but you will never see the profit unless you borrow against it or sell your home. Home Equity loans won’t be […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-facing-lawsuits-over-property-tax-theft/ If you don’t pay your property taxes, Illinois counties will “sell” them. After 3 years, if the same person bought them all, that person can own your property. It doesn’t matter how much they paid vrs how much the house if worth. The Supreme Court has ruled that unconstitutional. Read the whole story above, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois now has the highest property taxes in the country!

By: Diane Benjamin Locally we still haven’t been told when the airport is going to start taxing the county. If you forgot, Democrats got that passed in Springfield with members that don’t represent rural McLean County. That used to be called Taxation Without Representation. Assessed values are about to go up again. Since the area […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

400 Bloomington jobs lost in September

By: Diane Benjamin The Illinois Policy Institute puts employment figures out every month. Their numbers come from US Bureau of Labor Statistics. See their latest recap here: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/unemployment-high-in-13-of-15-illinois-metro-job-markets/ This chart is included: In August Bloomington gained 100 jobs: https://blnnews.com/2024/10/04/us-average-unemployment-4-4-mclean-county-4-8/ The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses “Bloomington” in their official documents. I don’t know if that […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

US Average unemployment 4.4%, McLean County 4.8%

See this story: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/unemployment-persists-in-illinois-metro-areas-during-august/ The Bloomington area gained 100 jobs in August. Springfield, Peoria, and Decatur all lost jobs. From August of 2023 to August of 2024 this area gained 600 jobs. The article has other interesting stats. It also has a path to prosperity that won’t happen. Illinois anti-business policies will continue because the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

How much cash did marijuana give your town?

By: Diane Benjamin You don’t know the answer to that because local government doesn’t want you to know. Both cities use the excuse you would be able to figure out how much dispensaries earned if you knew the taxes they paid. Luckily the Illinois Policy Institute figured it out based on taxes paid to the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

People are still leaving Illinois, I can’t imagine why 🤣

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/united-van-lines-illinois-2nd-in-nation-for-residents-leaving/ Excerpts: Illinois has had 10 years of population loss – the second-longest streak in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The No. 1 reason United Van Lines was given for people leaving Illinois was jobs, with more than one-quarter of respondents listing it as a primary reason ahead of family and retirement. Housing and employment […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

High gas prices: Government GOLD

By: Diane Benjamin Start with gas taxes: Federal Gas Tax: https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/2022/03/14/622f1813268e3e976c8b4593.html 18.3 cents per gallon 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel Illinois Gas Tax: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/research/taxrates/Pages/motorfuel.aspx 38.2 cents per gallon 46.7 cents per gallon for diesel Both Bloomington and Normal add another 8 cents per gallon, diesel and gas are the same. Every time you fill […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

100% Transparent Tari? Proof you aren’t!

By:  Diane Benjamin If you missed Tari’s State of the City address last Monday you can see my recap and listen to it here:   https://blnnews.com/2019/01/15/taris-state-of-the-city/ Recycling his talking points, Tari once again proclaimed the Illinois Policy Institute “continues” to give the City an A+ transparency score. Disregarding IPI discontinued the program in 2014, their transparency […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stories you probably missed

Just a few stories most media ignores: History of Illinois Fiscal Crisis (Hint:  both parties are at fault) https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/the-history-of-illinois-fiscal-crisis/   Austin’s Complete Streets Nightmare (Austin went with buses, since few ride buses here – local government is forcing bike lanes) http://www.texasturf.org/2012-06-01-03-09-30/latest-news/2113-austin-s-complete-streets-policy-a-complete-nightmare?mc_cid=1b7d77465e&mc_eid=26ab1cd66c   Renner didn’t sign on – Koos did Update:  Renner did sign – he […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Laws don’t apply to government

By:  Diane Benjamin Illinois Open Meetings Act Law: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=84&ChapterID=2 Monday night the Bloomington City Council is approving minutes dated between 1998 and 2009.  http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12450 Not approving minutes as required by law isn’t just something the City did a long time ago.  Here is another example from April 11, 2016: September 21, 2015 just happens to […]