CPS Inspector General Finds $800K of Questionable Spending
The Chicago Public Schools’ inspector general found $822,000 in questionable spending under former school board presidents Michael Scott and Rufus Williams. The Chicago Sun-Times reports:
The expenses, Inspector General James M. Sullivan wrote in a report released Monday, undercut the
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Update on Sunshine
Unfortunately, Illinois took two steps back in the transparency movement last week during veto session. The first occurred in a move to deny Illinois citizens the right to ask for government employee performance evaluations through a Freedom of Information (FOIA) …
Work on Industrial Arts Glass Studio Costs Illinois Taxpayers $71,000
According to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant Tracker website, the Little Black Pearl Workshop received a $71,000 grant to help complete the industrial arts glass studio, located at 1060 East 47th Street in Chicago. Specifically the …
Illinois to Spend $150k to Upgrade Lighting
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently awarded a grant to the city of Chicago to help “with upgrading the lighting in the 34th Ward of Chicago, specifically on 115th Street from Vincennes Avenue to Lowe Avenue.” The award …
Illinois Pays $100k to Host a Football Game Between Two Out-of-State Universities
The Chicago Football Classic Inc. received a $100,000 grant to assist in hosting the Chicago Football Classic. According to the DCEO website the game “will feature Mississippi Valley State versus Southern University.” Southern University is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana …
Grant for Costumed Actors Costs Taxpayers $79K
In 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a $79,000 to the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (search “Looking for Lincoln” - Grant #09337008). The Grant was awarded to “cover costs associated with hosting a Living History Program” …
School Vendor Data Available on IllinoisOpenGov!
What is your school district spending money on?
Check out some new spending data available on our spending transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org.
We have included school vendor information for you to check out! We’ll also be updating current information …
Chicago Horticultural Society receives $250k for its Plant Conservation Science Center
In 2009 the Chicago Horticultural Society received a $250,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity “to assist in the development of the visitor interpretive features in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center.” …
Spotlight on Spending
Check out the newest spotlight on spending covering traffic control aides in Chicago. Necessary? Some taxpayers don’t think so.…
Check Out a New Paper on TIF Transparency!
Although tax increment financing (TIF) has been around for over thirty years, many people do not understand how it works, how it affects their communities or their pocketbooks. Most people have no idea a significant portion of their property taxes …
