Alex Nitkin, Author at Illinois Answers Project

Alex Nitkin

Alex Nitkin is a solutions reporter conducting investigations on efforts to fix broken systems in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois government. Before joining Illinois Answers, he worked as a reporter and editor for The Daily Line covering Cook County and Chicago government. He previously worked at The Real Deal Chicago, where he covered local real estate news, and DNAinfo Chicago, where he worked as a breaking news reporter and then as a neighborhood reporter covering the city's Northwest Side. A New York City native who grew up in Connecticut, Alex graduated Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree.

Government Finance & Accountability

Cook County TIF revenues smash records, squeeze taxpayers

by Alex Nitkin January 11, 2023January 11, 2023

Tax-increment financing districts raked in $1.6 billion in 2021, accounting for nearly 10 cents of every dollar in taxes paid by Cook County property owners last year.

Other states which have enacted bail reforms have seen their pretrial jail populations decrease. The Cook County public defender and state's attorney support bail reforms which would have a significant impact on the population of Cook County Jail, seen above. (Credit: File photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Solutions

What would the end of cash bail mean for Illinois? New Jersey offers a preview.

by Alex Nitkin January 4, 2023January 9, 2023

As the Illinois Supreme Court considers the fate of the law, bail reform experiments elsewhere consistently show promising results. But the political backlash remains intense everywhere.

Many Latino homeowners, including those in Pilsen, have seen significant property tax increases this year.

Solutions

As many Latino homeowners get hit with big property tax increases, local politicians scramble for fixes

by Alex Nitkin December 21, 2022March 2, 2023

Several ideas are being floated, but policymakers agree it’ll take big changes in Springfield to tame property taxes.

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough wants to end the work of a federal monitor appointed to root out patronage hiring in the office. (Credit: Clerk's Instagram page)

Investigations

Cook County Office Looks to Shed Anti-Patronage Monitor as Watchdog Raises Alarm

by Alex Nitkin December 14, 2022January 3, 2023

Clerk Karen Yarbrough says her office has rooted out clout-based hiring. Attorney Michael Shakman isn’t so sure.

Government Finance & Accountability

Towns, School Districts Getting Millions of More Dollars in Property Taxes Thanks to a New, Little-Known State Law

by Alex Nitkin December 7, 2022January 3, 2023

For the first time this year, taxing bodies will automatically charge property owners for governments’ taxation errors.

Investigations

Lightfoot administration pushing TIF renewals to funnel billions in tax dollars into hot neighborhoods

by Alex Nitkin November 30, 2022December 1, 2022

The mayor campaigned on reining in tax-increment financing and has in some instances but is continuing the controversial practice in some affluent areas that critics say don’t need them.

Equity & Economic Opportunity

North-Suburban Tax Assessments Point To Trouble for Homeowners, Potential Relief for Businesses

by Alex Nitkin November 22, 2022January 3, 2023

Assessor Fritz Kaegi says a new round of tax assessments shows his policies are working. But the picture for north-suburban homeowners is more complicated.

Solutions

Here’s What the Bring Chicago Home Measure Would Do

by Alex Nitkin November 18, 2022January 9, 2023

The proposal would raise the city’s tax on the sale of pricey homes to help fight homelessness. An effort to get it on the February ballot fizzled this week, but advocates say their fight isn’t over.