Posted in Algonquin Rd, Animal Welfare, Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Bicyclists, Commercial Horse Boarding, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Don't Change Barrington Hills, Elections, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Flock Cameras, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Goat Rodeo, HARPS, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, IDOT, Land Use, LeCompte/Anderson Commercial Horse boarding amendment, Longmeadow Parkway, Mad Cows, Massbach Hounds, Overhead, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Roads and Bridges, SOS Party, Taxes, The Other Half, TMI, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Your Barrington Hills on September 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The Equestrian/Riding Club Commission will be meeting this evening at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of the agenda and Zoom link can be found here.
Posted in Cost of Living, Daily Herald, Economy, Letters to the Editor, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Resident Spotlights, Springfield, Taxes on August 31, 2026| 1 Comment »
Daily Herald Letter to the Editor
Illinois is home to more than 1.2 million small businesses. Small businesses create jobs, serve their communities, and drive economic growth across the state. To keep that momentum going, Illinois must foster a business and legal climate where a small business can continue to succeed.
Lawsuit abuse has become a major driver of the rising cost of doing business in Illinois. As owner of my new business, American General Storage and part of my family’s 60-year-old manufacturing company, Stanley Machining & Tool, I’ve seen firsthand the many obstacles that can jeopardize a company’s growth. Success becomes harder to sustain as lawmakers continue to add new costs and legal risks onto small business owners.
Last year, Gov. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 328 into law, which now opens Illinois courts to hear cases with out-of-state plaintiffs and defendants. From policies like this one that expose Illinois businesses to more lawsuits, to higher taxes and rising costs, small-business owners are being asked to absorb one added expense after another. Even worse, recent worker’s compensation legislation threatens to add yet another layer of litigation risk for employers. For small businesses, these costs add up very quickly.
Illinois lawmakers should give small businesses a fair chance to invest, grow, and support their communities. That starts with addressing lawsuit abuse, which is rising costs and making it harder to do business in Illinois.
Karen Trzaska, Barrington
Posted in Commodius Maximus, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, The Center Square, Unions on August 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
According to a new report on financial red flags, Illinois has a higher debt ratio than any other state and Chicago is the most financially tenuous place in America.
Reason Foundation used audited financial reports from state governments and the nation’s 100 largest cities, counties and school districts to evaluate them in eight measures of financial health.
Reason Foundation Research Director Geoff Lawrence said Illinois is way upside down, with a debt ratio of 276%.
“It has way more debt than assets, $80 billion in total assets versus $220 billion in debt, so if you were to try to liquidate all of the state’s assets to pay off all its debts, it would be impossible,” Lawrence told The Center Square.
The report also flagged Illinois for liabilities per capita and unrestricted net position.
Lawrence said Chicago residents are facing heavy city and county debt on top of federal and state debt.
“In addition to what you owe to the federal government in terms of outstanding debt per citizen, you owe substantial amounts as well to every level of local government,” Lawrence said, adding that the city continues to dig the hole.
“They outspent revenues by about $580 million in the last year for which we have data,” Lawrence said.
Read on here.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Commodius Maximus, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions on August 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »
The Illinois Tollway board could vote as soon as next week on a proposal that would include the largest passenger toll increase in state history.
By Ethan Soifer | Illinois Policy Institute
Public commenters online overwhelmingly oppose the Illinois Tollway’s proposed rate hikes.
Of the nearly 9,000 online responses received from July 12 to 24, approximately 7,500 opposed the proposal, 1,000 supported it, and 500 were neutral. The Illinois Policy Institute obtained the results via a Freedom of Information Act request.
The public comment period has closed, but you can still let the board and Gov. J.B. Pritzker know you oppose the hike here.
The tollway board could vote as soon as next week on the largest passenger toll hike in Illinois history. The plan would increase fees by 57% for passengers, costing a commuter who passes through two tolls a day for 50 weeks $225 more in 2027.
Commercial vehicles would pay 30% more in toll fees, which could increase the price of consumer goods transported through Northern Illinois.
Starting in 2029, automatic inflation-linked increases would be imposed every two years without additional board votes.
Report continues here.
Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on August 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Barrington Community Unit School District 220, in the County of Lake, State of Illinois, that a Tentative Budget for said school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, will be on file and “conveniently available” for public inspection at the Administrative Offices located at 515 West Main Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010, beginning August 1, 2026.
NOTICE IS FURTHER HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on said Budget will be held at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st day of September, 2026, at the Administrative Offices, 515 West Main Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010.
Dated this 1st day of August, 2026.
Board of Education
Barrington Community Unit School District 220
County of Lake, State of Illinois
Diana Clopton
Secretary
Board of Education
Related: “District 220 board members violated campaign policies, investigation finds,” “Proposed Policy Change Would Strip Anonymous Formal Grievances in Barrington District 220,” “Reminder: CUSD 220 Board of Education meeting tonight,” “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’“
Posted in BOHICA, Clown Car, Cost of Living, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Traffic, Unions on July 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Illinois drivers have only a short window to comment on a $26.5 billion capital plan that includes the largest passenger tollway hike in state history.
By Shaw Carlson | Illinois Policy Institute
Drivers face up to 15 years of additional construction and congestion on Illinois toll roads under the system’s proposed capital plan.
They’ll also pay toll hikes continuing long after that.
The Driving Connections plan, announced in June, would spur projects on the Illinois Tollway system until 2042. The $26.5 billion plan would be funded with proposed toll hikes that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on six months before the plan was released.
Former Tollway board member and state Sen. Bill Morris told the Daily Herald that “it appears they decided to raise tolls, and then they threw this together quickly for justification.”
The Tollway proposes raising tolls starting Jan. 1 by about 45 cents per toll for passenger drivers and 30% for commercial drivers. It would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.
You can tell the Tollway Board to reject the tax hike here.
The board is hosting public meetings until July 24 and taking public comments online until noon Aug. 3. The next regular board meeting at which the hike could be approved is Aug. 19.
Lawmakers driven by road needs or union politics?
The proposed toll hike is tied to politics around last year’s mass-transit bailout. Lawmakers redirected about $1 billion a year from the Road Fund toward Chicago-area public transportation, a move opposed by construction unions objecting to losing that road money. The toll hike became the price for labor union support.
House Speaker Chris Welch said unions wanted something to point to that would “help keep working people working and keep roads getting repaired.”
Pritzker appoints the tollway board, and two of its members hold leadership positions in construction unions.
The Driving Connections plan would fund road-widening, reconstruction, bridge work and congestion relief across interstates 355, 88, 294, 80, 94, 90 and the Route 390/I-490 O’Hare-area projects.
Many of those toll roads have recently seen extended periods of construction.
I-294 remains tied up in Central Tri-State work, I-90 was modernized during the previous capital plan and Route 390/I-490 work has been going on for years.
Illinois spent $90,400 per lane-mile in 2023 on state-owned roads — about $16,700 more than the Reason Foundation’s model calculated it should have cost.
Article continues here.
Once again, you can tell the Tollway Board to reject the tax hike here.
Posted in BOHICA, Economy, Elections, Fat Bastard, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Chicago Way, The New Normal? on July 16, 2026| 1 Comment »
The tax also risks being challenged in court.
By Adam Gorcyca | Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois’ new tax on digital asset transactions risks hurting trading volume and market liquidity, making the state unfriendly for the industry and prompting legal battles.
The fiscal 2027 state budget, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed in June, puts a 0.2% tax on the value of transactions in assets such as NFTs, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, starting Jan. 1. Such transactions include exchanges, transfers or custodial services.
It’s the first such tax in the country. Affected businesses include crypto exchanges, trades, wallet and custody providers holding customer assets and firms transmitting digital assets between accounts. The law applies to any digital asset broker with a place of business in Illinois and to any brokers that gross $100,000 or more in annual digital asset receipts with Illinois residents.
Compliance will require brokers to collect and retain customers’ personal online transaction history, account information, mailing address, IP address and other data to indicate Illinois is the customer’s place of primary use.
Because the tax targets transactions rather than profits, brokers must collect it even when a trade loses money or when assets are transferred between accounts. For gains, the new tax will be an addition to Illinois’ current 4.95% individual income tax, which applies to capital gains.
Lawmakers expect the tax to generate $60 million a year.
Read more here.
Posted in Chicago Tribune, ComEd Four, Cook, County, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb Bunny, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Overhead, Politics, Unions on July 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Mayor Brandon Johnson points to where he signed his name and wrote “The greatest frickin’ city in the world!” at a ceremonial beam-signing event at the construction site of the new Concourse D project at O’Hare International Airport on April 23, 2026. | Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune
By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune
We met recently with Robert Isom, the chief executive officer of American Airlines Group. Isom was in Chicago to reinforce his airline’s newly expanded commitment to Chicago, as writ large by the coming return of his airline’s nonstop flight from Chicago’s O’Hare airport to Tokyo Narita, a vital dual-hub addition to our city’s international connectivity that had been gone for seven years.
Isom told us he had met with some of the city’s business and political leaders and had many productive conversations. When we asked him what his airline needed from Chicago, he answered, in essence, that it was crucial the city remain a major business center. There will be connecting passengers at either end of that Tokyo flight, of course, but connections can be made at several hubs, many of which have cheaper landing fees than Chicago. Isom was making the point that the route needed substantial hometown demand, too. And that was dependent on the health of business in Chicago.
An American Airlines jet taxis at O’Hare International Airport on April 23, 2026. | Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune
That upbeat meeting was in our heads when we read this truly unfathomable statement by Mayor Brandon Johnson, from a recent press conference:
“The progressive movement is alive and well. We just have a few obstinate individuals that are more aligned with the interests of corporations that are ultimately stalling what could be a full-out revolution in this city, and the people of Chicago want it.”
We suspect we’re on the list of Johnson’s “few obstinate individuals,” along with assorted aldermen who do not enjoy mayoral favor, and we take pride in that. And, for the record, we agree with the mayor that the progressive movement is alive and well. Look no further than New York City to confirm that claim.
But Johnson didn’t stop there: He simply cannot stop trashing a business community that is trying like heck to promote growth and public safety even as City Hall insists on demonizing its honorable intentions.
Editorial continues here.
Posted in Barrington Education Association, Chicago Tribune, Cost of Living, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions on June 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »
By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law a new state budget that modestly increased state spending on K-12 education and related costs.
Yet most headlines ignored a more consequential education narrative — not one of how much is flowing to classrooms, but how much money never makes it there in the first place.
Pritzker’s budget allocates nearly $10.8 billion for K-12 education.
It also includes $7 billion for K-12 pension costs.
In 2000, the state spent about $705 million on K-12 pensions.
That’s not a typo.
Even after adjusting for inflation, Illinois’ spending on K-12 pensions has skyrocketed by roughly fivefold since the turn of the last century, ballooning to nearly 10 times the raw dollar amount spent in 2000.
For every dollar Illinois spends on education, it spends another 65 cents on pension obligations. Imagine how much more schools could do with even a sliver of that money.
These numbers help explain one major reason why costs continue to climb even as Illinois’ student population goes down. New data show Illinois lost more than 100,000 public school students in just the five years since 2019, more than twice the rate of decline for the Midwest as a whole. The state educates roughly 206,000 fewer public school students today than it did in 2000.
Yet total education spending continues to grow, though not necessarily in the best way for current and future students.
Editorial continues here.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Chicago Tribune, Clown Car, Cost of Living, Deception, Ethics, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Road construction, Springfield, Taxes, Traffic, Unions on June 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Engineer John Zimmerman, left, and Commissioner George DeMent, right, view an automatic coin collector at the toll gate of the Calumet Skyway on April 10, 1958, to be opened to traffic. | George Quinn/Chicago Tribune
By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune
Illinois tollways were meant to be freeways decades ago.
Gov. JB Pritzker promised to reform the Illinois Tollway before he was elected, the latest in a long line of governors, from Rod Blagojevich to Jim Thompson, who vowed reform.
Remember, the tollways aren’t even supposed to be tollways anymore. The tolls were meant to be temporary until the bonds issued to build the roads were paid off. Many of our readers may remember that old promise that by 1973, our dear tollways would become freeways.
“Toll free in ‘73,” it turns out, is just another empty promise long forgotten.
After decades — and billions of dollars — in paid tolls later, drivers are further away than ever from those cost-free roads.
Now, they’re staring down the prospect of another toll hike.
The Illinois Tollway board is in the process of implementing a 45-cent toll increase for I-Pass users, meaning a 70-cent toll today could become $1.15 in 2027.
And the toll hikes won’t stop there. Starting in 2029, the proposal to be considered by the Illinois Tollway board sets up CPI-indexed toll hikes every two years.
Editorial continues here.
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