read:http://wgntv.com/2017/06/27/powerball-mega-millions-ticket-sales-to-be-suspended-prize-payments-delayed/

SPRINGFIELD, IL- (WGN-TV.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Powerball and Mega Millions are pulling out of Illinois effective tomorrow night because of the state budget crisis.

Powerball ticket sales will end after tomorrow night’s drawing.  Mega Millions sales will stop on Friday night.

While the Illinois lottery will continue to hold drawings, anyone who wins more than $25,000 dollars will have their prize payments delayed.

Without a state budget, there’s no appropriation to pay the multi-state lottery agency that runs Powerball and Mega Millions

Press release from the Illinois Department of Revenue

Jefferson County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to Constance Beard, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law.  This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts).  If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value.  Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value.  Farmland is not subject to the state equalization factor.

Assessments in Jefferson County are at 32.85 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2016 taxes, payable in 2017.  Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.

The final assessment equalization factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor.  The tentative factor issued in March 2017 was 1.0000.

The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.

If this three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one (1).  If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one (1).  And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one (1).

A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease.  Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens.  If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.

The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume.  That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.

http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170626/rally-planned-at-capitol-to-defend-religious-freedom

SPRINGFEILD, IL –  (Mary Hansen, Springfield Journal Register.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Right of conscience could be one topic at a rally focusing on religious freedoms that’s planned for noon Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.

It’s being organized by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki is planning to attend.

Some Catholics are concerned about their right of conscience, particularly for physicians and other medical professionals who object to abortions, said Donna Moore, the diocese’s director for pro-life activities and special ministries.

https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/minimum-wage-bill-arrives-at-governor-s-desk/article_d4c1a486-5ab4-11e7-911e-c320057b66e3.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL-  (Cole Laterback, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt.)

Gov. Bruce Rauner has received a bill that would set a $15 minimum wage in Illinois, tying the Prairie State for the highest rate in the nation.

Just days before Cook County’s minimum wage hike to $10 an hour is set to take place, Democrats in the General Assembly set legislation on Rauner’s desk that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. According to the department of Labor, $15 an hour in 2022 would tie California and New York for the highest minimum wages in the nation.

David Borris, the owner of Hel’s Kitchen Catering in suburban Northbrook, says low minimum wages end up hurting taxpayers in the long run because workers rely on government subsidies rather than solely on their paychecks.

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/madigan-offers-new-demands-says-property-tax-relief-part-of/article_a9692dce-59f9-11e7-ab3a-637e491f7c9b.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for this and other stories about the happenings in Springfield over the weekend.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Legislative leaders say there’s a sense of optimism about budget negotiations, but with new demands from Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan and Friday’s budget deadline approaching, it’s unclear if all sides will agree on a spending plan before the new fiscal year begins Saturday.

Leaders from both parties met Sunday, the fifth day of the special session called by Gov. Bruce Rauner and only five days before the Friday budget deadline. On the table is a spending plan that relies on at least $5 billion in tax increases in exchange for various GOP-backed reforms of pensions, workers compensation and other items.

Legislative leaders say there’s a sense of optimism about budget negotiations, but with new demands from Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan and Friday’s budget deadline approaching, it’s unclear if all sides will agree on a spending plan before the new fiscal year begins Saturday.

Leaders from both parties met Sunday, the fifth day of the special session called by Gov. Bruce Rauner and only five days before the Friday budget deadline. On the table is a spending plan that relies on at least $5 billion in tax increases in exchange for various GOP-backed reforms of pensions, workers compensation and other items.