The Better Government Association and Illinois Answers Project offer two easy-to-use databases of public information in Illinois. We do this to bring greater clarity to how tax dollars are used.
Public Salaries Database
Every year, we compile Illinois’ most comprehensive database to review, explore and compare compensation for public employees throughout Illinois. We do this because we believe detailing how tax dollars are spent serves the public interest.
Public Pensions Database
Funding public-employee pension systems is perhaps the most vexing emergency facing Illinois taxpayers. We collect data from the largest public pensions systems in the state and centralize it into our Illinois Public Pensions Database.
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How We Reported on Cook County Assessment Errors
Reporters from Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Tribune collected and analyzed thousands of points of data to track down where the Cook County assessor misclassified hundreds of properties.
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These databases are resource intensive, both in money and time. We request, compile, organize and check data we receive from hundreds of taxing bodies across Illinois and put it into an easy-to-use site for you.