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The city of Chicago has just approved 6 million dollars in tax increment financing (TIF) for Accretive Health Inc. “to pay for job training and the build-out costs” of a new facility, which will be located at 231 South LaSalle …

Not many people understand tax increment financing (TIF) very well, and the lack of transparency in the TIF process, particularly in Chicago, leaves many taxpayers unaware of exactly where TIF developments are located, how many tax dollars are going …

The media has been uncovering some interesting spending from Cook County’s newly launched check registry, such as this find from The Prairie Stater, which discovered $76,291 in checks paid to Elgin-based ACE Coffee Holdings, Inc. since December 2009.…

Want to find out how Cook County is spending your tax dollars?

Check out its check register here and see where your tax dollars are going.

ABC 7′s I-Team found some interesting expenses of note, such as $6,243.75 to CROE …

After passing a transparency resolution about a year ago, Cook County has posted its check registry online and appears to be embracing spending transparency policy, describing their move as an “Open County Initiative,” which is “part of Cook …

Sunshine Review wrote a good post about how transparency – or the lack thereof – from Cook County Board President Todd Stroger may have had a hand in why he lost in Tuesday’s election.

Check it out out here!…

According to the Daily Herald, “Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said today he would release his tax returns for the last two years on Thursday and called on his opponents in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary to do the same …

How is that $87.8 million spent?

A Chicago Tribune piece today discusses how the “state Board of Education is looking into questions about the “accountability and transparency” of millions of dollars in state money that Chicago Public Schools receives each …

A TIF sunshine ordinance passed last April for the city of Chicago and sparked some hope it would help people more clearly understand TIF and help them track the enormous of amount of tax dollars flowing into the various TIF …

The Sears Tower has long stood as a beacon of Chicago – and Illinois at large. Rising above the clouds, the magnificent steel structure enamors residents and tourists alike. Yet recently, the building’s management has taken it a step further …