By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Tax receipts increase $1.5 billion year-over-year

Citing a report by the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, the National Federation of Independent Business says state tax collections through December are up more than $1.5 billion year-over-year from fiscal year 2025.

The report says personal income tax collections are up more than half a billion, sales tax collections are up $300 million and estate tax collections are up $174 million.

Corporate income tax collections, however, are down $183 million.

Gross corporate income tax revenues declined by $104 million last month compared with last December, a decrease of 11.0%.

Chicago community development grants announced

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced $33 million in grants for community development projects.

The grants include millions for a gun violence prevention nonprofit, for a craft brewery, for the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and for a content production studio.

Johnson said Tuesday that the city could be “bracing for layoffs” this year due to the $16.7 billion budget passed by aldermen without the mayor’s proposed head tax on employers.

Wetland center reopening

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is inviting the public to celebrate the reopening of the Henry N. Barkhausen Cache River Wetland Center at Cache River State Natural Area in southern Illinois.

On Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can enjoy family-friendly environmental crafts, explore interactive community education and conservation booths, meet with local naturalists and environmental organizations, and explore self-guided winter hiking, biking and birding.