Transparent & Accountable Government News Releases

News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Infrastructure Trust Approved Without Proper Taxpayer Protections

Today the Chicago City Council voted 41-7 to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, despite many continued, substantial concerns from aldermen, Illinois PIRG and other advocacy organizations, and members of the public.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Public Needs More Details on How Infrastructure Program Will be Financed

Illinois PIRG field director, Celeste Meiffren, released a statement today, in response to Mayor Emanuel’s “Building a New Chicago” program announcement.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG Education Fund | Tax

Illinois Receives a “B-” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

Illinois received a “B-“ when it comes to government spending transparency, according to Following the Money 2012: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data, the third annual report of its kind by the Illinois PIRG Education Fund.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Progress Report: Promised Reforms to Protect Chicago Tax Dollars ‘Incomplete’

Yesterday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that he will be immediately implementing some of the reforms proposed by his TIF Reform Panel five months ago. Today, watchdog group Illinois PIRG released a report on the need to fix TIF and called for all of the Mayor’s recommendations to become law.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

Red Light and Speed Cameras: Public Safety or Private Gain?

No one likes getting traffic tickets. But a new research report released today by Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG) will make you dislike them even more.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Chicago Failing to Meet TIF Transparency Requirements

A recent analysis of the City of Chicago’s website responsible for providing the public information on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) finds critical information is missing, leaving the public in the dark on how tax dollars are spent.

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News Release | Illinois PIRG | Budget, Tax

Chicago Aldermen Introduce Privatization Reform

Aldermen joined together today to introduce the Public Interest Ordinance on Leasing City Assets, a new ordinance that will provide greater taxpayer protection in any future Chicago lease deals and improve the ability for City Council Aldermen and the public to scrutinize future lease agreements.