A no-tax-increase budget proposal by State Sens. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods).

Transform Illinois is one group leading the charge for consolidation. Transform Illinois is a collaborative of local elected officials, civic organizations and research institutions dedicated to promoting and supporting local government efficiency efforts in Illinois.

The lawmakers appear to be the highest-ranking stragglers out of thousands of state workers whom the revenue agency originally identified and contacted after matching W-2 tax forms to payroll records. Because individual tax returns are confidential, the Department of Revenue would not name any of the workers, providing only a numerical breakdown by category of state job.

Fifteen counties in the southernmost part of Illinois lost population from July 2015 to July 2016, fueled by significant domestic migration.

Senate Bill 9 would apply a 6.25 percent sales tax to laundry, dry cleaning, storage units and parking garages, among other services.

In exchange for more than $112 million in tax breaks, Amazon promised to expand its Illinois operations and hire 7,200 new employees in Aurora, Monee and Joliet.

In states where “plasma donor” is not as popular a livelihood among the citizenry, and where the legislature types don’t operate their state at a purposeful deficit, the comptroller has no actual political value. But in Illinois, the comptroller decides who gets paid.

Northeastern Illinois University’s board was shocked last week to hear that the school had signed a contract to pay former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett $30,000 to give a commencement speech. Comment: Jarrett has finally had a positive impact on something.

The state pointed to a troubling trend of more districts taking on long-term debt — not to construct schools or pay for other capital costs — but to cover normal operating expenses.